Howe defends Newcastle decision to return to Saudi Arabia for training camp

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has defended the club's decision to return to Saudi Arabia for a warm-weather training camp.

The Magpies, who are 80% owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, confirmed on Friday morning that they would head for capital Riyadh between 4-10 December after making a similar trip to Jeddah in January.

Asked about the criticism that trip might spark, Howe said: "We've made a football decision. We've looked at the World Cup break, what's the best thing for the team.

"The best thing for the team, I believe, is to take the team away like you would in pre-season, away from distractions, a chance to really train the group, enhance the team spirit with hopefully some good weather, so that's what we've done.

"We've made it from a purely footballing backdrop."

Howe's side will play a friendly against Pro League champions Al-Hilal on December 8 during a trip he hopes will yield similar results to their last visit, after which they won five of their next six matches as they embarked upon a nine-game unbeaten run.

He said: "When you look back to last year, our decision to go there and the benefit it had for the team and the results on our return were really good, so we got a few positive connotations from that.

"Going back to our trip last year, the weather was very good, the facilities were first class, we were able to spend some quality time together to bond the group and really focus our energies on our battle to stay in the division.

"The team spirit off the back of that trip was very, very good. Obviously we have that positive experience to fall back on and it's helped with our decision this time."