21
Oct
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has defended the club's decision to return to Saudi Arabia for a warm-weather training camp, saying it was made from a "purely footballing backdrop". The Magpies will travel to Riyadh from 4-10 December during the Premier League's break for the World Cup, and will play Al-Hilal in a friendly. A Saudi-backed takeover of the club was completed in October 2021. The club previously travelled to Saudi Arabia in January. "We've made a football decision. We've looked at the World Cup break, what's the best thing for the team," said Howe. "The best thing for the team,…