Newcastle Midfielder Joe Willock Stretchered Off South Korea Friendly

Newcastle United's pre-season troubles deepened when midfielder Joe Willock was stretchered off after a collision in their friendly loss against the K-League XI in South Korea. Despite the alarming nature of the injury, manager Eddie Howe expressed cautious optimism that Willock had avoided a 'major, major injury,' though the exact extent remains unclear. Willock, who has battled multiple injuries over the past two seasons, is a key player for Newcastle and his fitness is crucial as the club prepares for the new season starting in mid-August. This setback adds to a challenging summer for Newcastle, which includes difficulties in the transfer market and uncertainty surrounding star forward Alexander Isak, who has expressed a desire to leave despite no formal bids yet. Howe acknowledged the club's need to strengthen the squad but admitted the situation with Isak and incoming transfers is complex. Newcastle's return to the Champions League and recent domestic success stand in contrast to these ongoing issues, intensifying pressure on the club ahead of the new campaign.