Newcastle United’s ‘secret’ contract extension confirmed ahead of Austria trip

Newcastle United has commenced a training camp in Austria, with several key players joining the squad after extended breaks. Alexander Isak, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes have all linked up with the team, with Isak recovering from a groin injury and the others having participated in recent international fixtures. New signing Anthony Elanga, whose £52 million transfer from Nottingham Forest was officially confirmed, has also arrived.

These players were absent from Newcastle's pre-season friendly against Carlisle United, which resulted in a 4-0 victory for the Magpies. Manager Eddie Howe fielded two distinct lineups for each half, with Sean Longstaff opening the scoring in the first period. Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, and Ben Parkinson added goals in the second half to secure the win.

In goal, Nick Pope started the match while regular backup Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos were granted time off following international duties with Slovakia and Greece, respectively. John Ruddy replaced Pope for the second half, strongly suggesting he has signed a new contract with the club. Ruddy's previous deal had expired at the end of last season, and his appearance confirms ongoing discussions have concluded positively.

Ruddy, who joined Newcastle last summer as a senior training figure rather than a competitive player, emphasized his role in mentoring and supporting the goalkeeping department. He highlighted his 20-year career experience as a valuable asset for guiding younger teammates, a responsibility he actively embraces despite not featuring in senior matches since his arrival.