Newcastle are taking on Premier League rivals Tottenham in a bizarre post-season friendly in Australia this morning.
Both teams have travelled to the other side of the world just days after their final Premier League games of the season at the weekend.
Spurs booked a place in the Europa League next campaign with a 3-0 win over Sheffield United while the Magpies beat Brentford 4-2 to finish seventh.
However, they don’t have any time to rest, as they are playing again just three days later – Down Under!
Newcastle vs Tottenham: Why is it being played?
There have been so many questions about why the players have been forced to play in Australia.
It is very strange to have to travel across the world for a friendly, with the squads getting onto their planes on the same day as their last game of the Premier League campaign.
However, Newcastle will face Tottenham as part of Global Football Week Melbourne.
The top-flight rivals will meet in one of three games during the special week, with Toon also taking on an A-League All-Stars team on Friday.
Arsenal Women are also travelling Down Under to take on an A-League Women’s All-Stars team.
For Tottenham, it also means a homecoming for Ange Postecoglou, who returns to his birth country of Australia for the game.
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Newcastle vs Tottenham: What has been said?
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has been left baffled by the decision to play on the other side of the world so soon after the Premier League’s final day.
“Can you imagine if you’re a player who is playing in either the Copa America or Euro 2024 having to do that? Madness. Crazy,” Shearer told Match Of The Day.
“I wouldn’t be happy at all. It’s crazy for Newcastle to go and play Spurs there on Wednesday night and then another game.”
However, Magpies boss Eddie Howe believes it is a good thing for the club.
“I think it’s important we grow the name of Newcastle at every opportunity we get,” he said.
“You are sort of cocooned in England. You understand there is a wider support base, but if you are not exposed it then it’s difficult to understand it.”
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Newcastle vs Tottenham: Teams
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Anderson, Joelinton, Almiron, Barnes, Isak
Subs: Gillespie, Wilson, J Murphy, Ashby, De Bolle, Kuol, White, Diallo, Turner-Cooke, A Murphy, Parkinson, Thompson, Charlton, Hernes
Tottenham: Austin, Porro, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Emerson, Bentancur, Sarr, Maddison, Kulusevski, Johnson, Son
Subs: Vicario, Whiteman, Phillips, Black, Skipp, Devine, Abbott, Hall, Gil, Scarlett, Santiago, Donely, Kyrematien
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Newcastle vs Tottenham: How to follow
This post-season friendly will take place on Wednesday, May 22.
It will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm local time which is 10:45am UK time.
The game will be broadcast live on SPURSPLAY.
To watch the action, fans will need to sign up to the club’s streaming service which costs £45 for a subscription. Details on how to sign up are here.
Newcastle are also streaming the game via Newcastle TV.
It’s free for members and season ticket holders, and for everyone else, it’s £4.99. Details here.
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