• Magpies plan warm-weather training camp
• Will use Al-Nassr's facilities
• Ronaldo set for Portugal duty

WHAT HAPPENED?

Eddie Howe and his Newcastle players not on international duty are set to enjoy some warm-weather training in Riyadh. The Magpies will train at Al-Nassr's stadium where Ronaldo and team-mates such as Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte currently ply their trade, according to the Daily Mail. Saudi-owned Newcastle have taken in such trips before but this is the first time they have used Ronaldo's home as a base after apparently being impressed by the facilities on offer.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The trip will allow Newcastle's players the chance to recharge their batteries and enjoy some sunshine before heading back into Premier League duty. Howe will be without big stars such as Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak but key players such as Harvey Barnes, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Dan Burn, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff will make the trip to the Middle East. However, there will be no welcome committee from Ronaldo as he will shortly be flying out of Saudi Arabia to meet up with the Portugal squad for Nations League fixtures against Poland and Croatia.

DID YOU KNOW?

Newcastle have played 10 Premier League games this season, scored 10 goals and conceded 10 times.

WHAT NEXT

Newcastle face high-flying Nottingham Forest before domestic action pauses once again. Nuno Espirito Santo's side are currently third in the table, with former Newcastle striker Chris Wood playing a key role for the club. He's scored eight times in 10 Premier League matches for Forest, winning the Premier League's Player of the Month for October - only Erling Haaland has scored more than the New Zealand international in the top flight this season.