Newcastle United will begin their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a clash against Championship outfit Hull City on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies are building towards their Premier League opener against Southampton on August 17, while Hull will begin their Championship campaign at home to Bristol City on August 10.
Match preview
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Hull have already played three times this summer, opening their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Kasimpasa on July 13, before losing their next two to Fenerbahce and Doncaster Rovers.
Not too much can be read into pre-season results, but the fact that the Tigers have conceded nine times in their last two friendlies will be concerning, especially as the new Championship campaign is now just around the corner.
Hull will take on Fiorentina and Reading in their final two friendlies of the summer before welcoming Bristol City in their first match of the 2024-25 Championship campaign on August 10.
Tim Walter was confirmed as the club's new manager at the end of May, and he has taken over a team which finished seventh in the Championship last season, just three points off the playoffs.
Hull have lost a number of key players this summer, though, and they have only managed to make two signings so far, with Ryan Giles and Cody Drameh arriving to boost the squad.
![Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe pictured on May 22, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/25/eddie-howe_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe pictured on May 22, 2024 [IMAGO]")
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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe continues to be linked with the England job, but the 46-year-old is currently focused on preparing his Magpies team for the 2024-25 campaign.
There was a drop-off in their performance level last term after claiming fourth in England's top flight the season before, but they still managed to secure seventh spot in the Premier League table and will be expecting to be in and around the Champions League spots in the coming campaign.
The Magpies will travel to Japan after this match, with two friendlies taking place in the country against Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F Marinos, before heading back to England for the final stages of their preparations for the new campaign.
Indeed, Newcastle will take Girona and Brest on August 9 and August 10 respectively, before beginning their Premier League season at home to newly-promoted Southampton on August 17.
Howe's side have made four signings this summer, with Lewis Hall proving to be the biggest of those, arriving on a permanent basis from Chelsea following a loan spell, while Elliot Anderson has been their standout departure, with the 21-year-old being allowed to join Nottingham Forest.
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Team News
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Hull's two new signings Giles and Drameh are expected to be involved in this contest, but it is currently a thin squad, with the likes of Jacob Greaves, Jaden Philogene and Ozan Tufan leaving this summer.
Jean Michael Seri was among the players to start on the bench against Doncaster last time out, but he is expected to be brought into the XI for the clash with Newcastle.
There will once again be changes throughout the contest, but Henry Sandat should retain his spot in the final third of the field for the Championship outfit.
As for Newcastle, Kieran Trippier is a notable absentee due to his involvement for England at Euro 2024, while Bruno Guimaraes is also missing, having represented Brazil at the Copa America.
Head coach Howe will still be able to select a strong side, though, with Lloyd Kelly expected to make his debut as a starter in the middle of the defence.
There should also be an official debut for Hall at left-back, while the likes of Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak are set to be in the first XI for the Premier League side this weekend.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Drameh, Smith, Ashbee, Giles; Coyle, Seri, Simons, Tinsdale; Sandat, Vaughan
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Livramento, Kelly, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Barnes
We say: Hull City 0-3 Newcastle United
Hull's preparations for the new campaign have been worrying, and they desperately need to add some new players before the start of the season. Newcastle are only just starting their pre-season, but we are expecting Howe's team to be far too strong for their opponents in this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
