Magpies land back at pre-season training

NEWCASTLE’S players returned for pre-season training yesterday amid hopes that a breakthrough off the field could be just days away.

Aside from a handful of players given extra time to recover from international commitments, as well as the out-of-contract pair Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, those members of the squad who failed to keep Newcastle in the Premier League reported back to the club’s Darsley Park training headquarters for a 10am start.

They were greeted by coach Chris Hughton, cast in the role of caretaker manager with Alan Shearer awaiting news on his chances of returning to the helm.

It’s understood owner Mike Ashley is hopeful that there could be significant developments by the end of this week as he attempts to push through a sale.

At least four consortia have been involved in talks with Seymour Pierce chairman Keith Harris, and two are believed to have reached advanced stages in the race to take over the club.

A US-based group is understood to be among the front-runners. While former chairman Freddy Shepherd is among the field, there is still much ground to be covered from his point of view.

Ashley has insisted from day one that he would accept the first viable offer at his asking price of £100m.

Several of the competing consortia are ready to bow to the demands of the fans and install Shearer as manager, although others are yet to make their plans clear, and with all having had to sign non-disclosure agreements, hard facts are in short supply.

In the meantime, Hughton, assisted by Colin Calderwood, Paul Barron and the soon-to-depart strength and conditioning coaches Robbie Elliott and Mark Hulse, will attempt to prepare the players with the start of the Coca-Cola Championship season less than six weeks away.

Owen, Viduka, Claudio Cacapa, David Edgar and Ignacio were conspicuous by their absence after their contracts expired at midnight, and there was no Peter Lovenkrands after he was allegedly informed by letter last week that his short stay on Tyneside had come to a close amid speculation that Sunderland, Wigan and West Ham are on his trail.

Damien Duff, Jonas Gutierrez, Sebastien Bassong, Geremi and Xisco have been given a longer break because of their international commitments, but several of those who did return did so with their own futures up in the air.

Prime among them was midfielder Joey Barton, who was back at the training ground from which he was told to stay away by Shearer in the wake of a furious dressing room row following his sending-off at Liverpool on May 3.

Barton is one of several high-earners linked with moves away to slash a £74m annual wage bill.

Newcastle will head for a training camp at Carton House in Kildare on Sunday and play Shamrock Rovers in their opening friendly on Saturday, July 11.