Craig Hope

NEWCASTLE CONFIDENTIAL: Once the stag do leg of Newcastle's stay in Dubai is over, the footballs will come out - but there is another sport where the action will be far more competitive.

CRAIG HOPE: When Anthony Gordon said in Germany that England were too predictable and claimed he could bring excitement, it marked the end of his tournament under Gareth Southgate.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE: We are standing on a centre spot, five miles north of Stockholm, where 16-year-old Alexander Isak once waited to kick off.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE AND SIMON JONES: Burn, who can play at left-sided centre half and left back, has been outstanding for Newcastle this season in defence.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE AND SIMON JONES: Burn, who can play at left-sided centre half and left back, has been outstanding for Newcastle this season in defence.

The Magpies are due to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley next weekend, and have already been handed a triple blow ahead of that game.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE: Newcastle defender Lewis Hall will miss the Carabao Cup final in yet another blow for Eddie Howe, Mail Sport can reveal.

Newcastle vs Brighton - FA Cup: Live score, team and fallout from St James' Park as Danny Welbeck's...

CRAIG HOPE: We reported earlier this month that a bus parade in Newcastle - as was planned for the 2023 Carabao Cup final - would be difficult to organise this time.

While those on the inside of Matfen Hall's oak-panelled Morning Room looked into a window of Newcastle United's future, a couple of fellas on the outside cleaned the glass.