Newcastle United fell to a 2-1 friendly defeat against Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park on Saturday, but new head coach Matthias Jaissle remained optimistic despite a lacklustre performance. The match, watched by a crowd in excess of 39,000, offered a glimpse of a transitional squad adjusting to life without key players Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães, who departed this summer.
Early Setback and a Response
Leverkusen took the lead within the first minute when Ibrahim Maza manoeuvred the ball onto his left foot in the area and fired past new goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. Jaissle, who took over after Eddie Howe's sudden departure at the end of July, looked crestfallen but saw his team improve incrementally during the first half. Malick Thiaw equalised just before half-time with a scoring header from Anthony Elanga's corner, prompting a prolonged bout of clapping from the 38-year-old German coach.
Jaissle has already shown tentative signs of revitalising players like Thiaw, Elanga, and Yoane Wissa. His faith in 17-year-old Mason Miley, the younger brother of Lewis Miley, was vindicated as the academy product shone at right-back, frequently frustrating Leverkusen's Miguel Gutiérrez. “Mason's a young lad with the attitude we need; he has the right heart and the right quality,” said Jaissle, sipping an energy drink after the match.
Missing Key Players
Newcastle are still grappling with the departures of Gordon, Tonali, and Guimarães, leaving gaps in midfield and attack. Dan Burn is set to captain the side, with Joelinton as deputy, but Joelinton is injured and will miss the Premier League opener against Liverpool next Sunday. Burn was not involved in this match as Jaissle split his squad for a weekend that includes another friendly against Strasbourg on Sunday.
Jaissle acknowledged the scale of the task: “It's a big challenge. It's a big transition.” The coach, who previously managed Al-Ahli in Jeddah, is working to fit together the pieces of a squad that has been dismantled and rebuilt. The Miley brothers contributed positively, with Lewis looking assured in central midfield on his first appearance since breaking a leg last spring.
Transfer Targets and Squad Gaps
Newcastle are close to finalising a deal for Benfica's Amar Dedic, a 23-year-old right-back who can also play on the left and previously played under Jaissle at RB Salzburg. The move appeared near completion on Saturday night. Once Dedic arrives, attention will turn to filling the midfield void left by Tonali and Guimarães. The 18-year-old Sean Steur, one of four players aged 20 or under signed since June, showed nice touches but also betrayed inexperience. Marseille's Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has declined a £13m move, and João Palhinha has yet to be persuaded to leave Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen's new manager, Carles Martínez, recently imported from Toulouse, saw his side improve after introducing Patrick Schick in the second half. Victor Boniface scored the winner with a late rolled finish after turning Steur. Jaissle, still working to unlock Nick Woltemade's latent talent, acknowledged the need for more attacking incision.
Asked if Liverpool were arriving too soon, Jaissle initially replied, “We'll do our best,” before turning upbeat: “We'll keep using positivity. I like these challenges. We are not concerned. I can't wait.” Newcastle will host Liverpool in their Premier League opener next Sunday, a match that will test the team's readiness after a turbulent summer.
