Revealed: Newcastle’s cup final parade plans and major Alexander Isak fitness update, the summer transfer strategy devised at top-level Quayside summit and space-age venue for pre-season – NEWCASTLE CONFIDENTIAL

Newcastle are not planning a post-Wembley victory parade and will instead celebrate or drown their sorrows amid the sunshine of Dubai, Confidential can exclusively reveal.

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 around because of the international break. Several of the senior squad will be required to join up with their national teams in the 24 hours after the final on Sunday, March 16.

And so, if the Magpies do beat Liverpool, supporters will have to wait until the end of the season before the team parade their silverware through Tyneside’s streets. After a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, the delay would feel like the blink of an eye!

By then, there is also the chance that Newcastle could have lifted the FA Cup, with a fifth round tie to come at home to Brighton on Sunday.

But, for now, any talk of open-top buses will be parked, in keeping with the club’s wishes to control emotion around the final. Rather than a bus, it will be an aeroplane the team board the day after the game.

We understand the Magpies will use the NAS Sports Complex in Dubai – where Arsenal went two weeks ago for their own mid-season break – for a period of warm-weather training, like they have done in previous seasons.

It’s been 70 years since Newcastle’s last domestic trophy – the 1955 FA Cup – so any parade will be worth the wait!

It was always the intention to return this year, and the later date of the cup final means the two run into each other.

Regardless of whether they are toasting victory or commiserating, the players will be given at least 36 hours of free time upon arrival in the Emirate city, during which they can relax and enjoy some group bonding.

Up, up, up for the Cup? 

Would Newcastle be allowed to take the trophy with them to Dubai? I have spoken to the EFL… and the answer is yes!

It would need to be confirmed with league chiefs in advance and the appropriate travel case arranged, but there is no rule saying the silverware cannot leave the country or be transported on an aeroplane.

Maybe Eddie Howe and the boys could parade the trophy around Dubai Marina, aboard camels instead of busses!

Alexander Isak’s fitness is the talk of the town ahead of next month’s cup final

Is Isak OK? 

One last thing on the final, and it is the question I have been asked several times on social media – will Alexander Isak be fit?

My information today is that, while there is every chance Isak will sit out Sunday’s visit of Brighton, there are no fears of the groin injury that saw him miss Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool being serious.

Rather, if the tightness is linked to fatigue, the schedule allows for the Swede to have a period of rest before the trip to West Ham a week on Monday.

So, to answer the above question – yes, Alexander Isak will be OK for the final!

Far Eastern Promise 

Newcastle are working on ambitious plans to spend pre-season in Hong Kong, including games at the brand new Kai Tak Stadium, a magnificent 50,000-seater arena in Kowloon.

Confidential can reveal that, after missing out on a place in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States, attention has now turned to a Far East tour.

Facilities in Hong Kong have been identified and a schedule is being worked on, which it is hoped will include friendlies at the Kai Tak Sports Park complex.

My sources have even mooted a match against Tottenham, although nothing has been finalised.

The Kai Tak Sports Park complex where Newcastle are planning to host their pre-season

The multi-purpose sports venue is built on the site of the former Kai Tak Airport

The venue opens on Saturday and will be the largest sports venue in Hong Kong

The venue opens this weekend with an official ‘Grand Ceremony’ and, intriguingly, it has been designed by Populous, the architects who are working on plans for Newcastle’s new training ground.

In fact, from conversations I’ve had, the exterior of the main stadium at Kai Tak is not dissimilar to the ‘bubble wrap’ type design that has been seen on some drawings of how a potential new home for Newcastle could look, even though Populous are not involved in that project.

The Hong Kong stadium is a truly stunning design and is part of the regeneration of an area that was once an airport site. Its first major event will involve music, not sport, with Coldplay playing to four sold-out audiences in April.

Empty feeling

Corporate supporters WILL boycott Sunday’s visit of Brighton, after heated exchanges with club staff over cup-final ticket allocation.

Confidential revealed two weeks ago that box holders were furious after being given four tickets for the Wembley date rather than 10, like they were for the 2023 final.

And during last Sunday’s victory over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park, a group of corporate clients lobbied others to leave their box empty for the FA Cup tie against Brighton, rather than pay extra to occupy it, often in excess of £3,000.

I understand there were several fraught conversations during the afternoon with club staff who manage those lucrative accounts, and there is a feeling that the club were not transparent from the start of the season in how cup final tickets would be allocated to them. Even club insiders have admitted the situation should have been handled differently.

The upshot is that several corporate areas and lounges will be closed on Sunday, although the club have not relented on their allocation for Wembley.

Brighton’s visit to Newcastle will be played amid a boycott by some corporate supporters

Scouting summit

Sporting director Paul Mitchell led a scouting summit at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel last weekend as the club’s transfer strategy ahead of the summer was outlined.

All of the first-team scouting staff were present at the Quayside venue overlooking the River Tyne, before attending Newcastle’s 4-3 home win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.

The club are conscious that the picture with regards budget will change if they qualify for the Champions League. However, I’m told that a lot of targets remain the same and there are not ‘two separate lists’, even if failure to make the Champions League could mean missing out on those at the top of the wish list.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell (left) with chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan

As we revealed last week, goalkeeper James Trafford is expected to arrive from Burnley, while a right-sided centre back, right winger and versatile midfielder/forward will also be sought.

Outside of the first team, Malaga winger Antonio Cordero is set to arrive on a free transfer and the 18-year-old will spend next season out on loan. His family have now visited Tyneside in anticipation of the move being agreed.

Malaga winger Antonio Cordero is set to arrive on a free transfer this summer then go on loan 

Toon Teaser

It’s Toon Teaser time. Last week’s puzzler was… can you name the EIGHT players to have played for Newcastle and Swansea since 1992?

The answers were; Harrison Ashby, David Edgar, Federico Fernandez, Shefki Kuqi, Wayne Routledge, Jonjo Shelvey, Ki Sung-yeung and Freddie Woodman.

This week’s puzzler is…

Can you name the NINE players to have played for Newcastle and Reading since 1992-93? Good luck!