Alan Shearer has slammed Newcastle’s post-season friendly with Tottenham in Australia this week as “madness”.
Both sides concluded their Premier League campaigns on Sunday but will be in action at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, with Newcastle also facing an A-League All Star team two days later.
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Both clubs have named strong squads for the friendly, including the likes of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak, James Maddison and Mickey van de Ven.
Both the European Championship and Copa America kick off in roughly a month and Magpies legend Shearer says the respective tours are “crazy”.
Shearer said on Match of the Day: “Can you imagine if you’re a player who is playing in either the Copa America or Euro 2024 having to do that? Madness. Crazy.
“I wouldn’t be happy at all. It’s crazy for Newcastle to go and play Spurs there on Wednesday night and then another game.”
Next stop: Melbourne 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Fzky4rM49z
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 19, 2024
‘Exposure and revenue benefits’
Both Eddie Howe and Ange Postecoglou have spoken positively of the tour however, with the Toon boss insisting “it’s important we grow the name of Newcastle at every opportunity we get”.
Spurs’ Australian boss Postecoglou highlighted the “exposure and revenue” benefits, before admitting the club’s smaller schedule in 2023-24 has allowed them to take part.
He said: “If we had a bigger game schedule I probably would have said ‘no’ to it and I don’t think the club would have expected us to go.”
"We are very happy to go to Australia, boys." 😏
Next stop: Melbourne! ✈️🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/V53HavTnjF
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 20, 2024
