Eddie Howe says Newcastle training camp in Saudi Arabia is for football reasons

'We’ve made a football decision,' the Magpies boss says. 

EASTBOUND AND DOWN: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has defended the club’s decision to return to Saudi Arabia for a warm-weather training camp (Mike Egerton/PA)

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has defended the club’s decision to head back to Saudi Arabia for a controversial warm-weather training camp during the forthcoming break for the World Cup.

The Magpies, who travelled to Jeddah in January for similar reasons, will return to the Gulf state between December 4 and 10 and face Pro League champions Al-Hilal in a friendly.