The Mag

Matthias Jaissle watched on as Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen. A couple of weeks into his new job, it was the Head Coach’s first experience of a match at St James’ Park, albeit a friendly. Matthias Jaissle reflecting on his first ever game at the home of Newcastle United: “I was so happy to see the atmosphere, so I can’t even imagine what it will look like against Liverpool when the stadium is full and we get the whole support. We need to stick together.

Well, I did it again. I went down to Newcastle as I did last year. In what feels like a never-ending quest to witness Newcastle United winning a game at St James’ Park. Something that ahead of this Bayer Leverkusen game, I don’t think I’ve actually seen happen since Summer 2008; the summer before we got relegated. I’m not a season ticket holder. And not a regular visitor to St James’s Park. I’m not a Mags+ Member. So matches like today are really the only shot I have to watch the team in the flesh.

Well, here we are again. I’m starting to think my insistence that pre-season friendlies aren’t for me is sounding unlikely given the time I seem to be spending at them. The traditional pre-season double header had become something I enjoyed, given the more available tickets allowed a wider group to potentially attend and it offered the chance for a full weekend around a usually sunny Newcastle that couldn’t be spoiled by matches of diminished importance.

Amar Dedic is expected to arrive on Tyneside today to take his medical. Craig Hope at The Mail and Keith Downie of Sky Sports reporting that final details of his transfer were getting sorted overnight and the Bosnian international is set to be the first Newcastle United signing since Matthias Jaissle took over. A £30m deal will bring Amar Dedic from Benfica to link up again with his old boss who managed him at RB Salzburg.

Matthias Jaissle had revealed that Joelinton will miss the start of the new season. The Newcastle United boss speaking on Saturday. United losing 2-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in a friendly and afterwards Matthias Jaissle revealing that Joelinton will be missing for at least a couple of weeks. Jaissle not making public what the injury issue is.

Newcastle United have now named their new club captain. An official announcement on Saturday revealing the news. Zero surprise as Newcastle United and England star Dan Burn has been given the nod. The club’s official release stating: ‘Newcastle United can confirm that defender Dan Burn has been appointed club captain ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Saturday afternoon ended Newcastle United 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2. Matthias Jaissle experiencing his first ever match at St James’ Park. A crowd of over 39,000 turning up to welcome the new boss. Not the greatest start to his SJP experience though, as an excellent long range effort from Ibrahim Maza gave the visitors an early lead inside 45 seconds. Lewis Hall should have maybe done better in terms of closing him down. Bayer Leverkusen going on to control the opening 25-30 minutes.

Dan Burn has had a busy summer. It was so good to see him not only make the England squad for the World Cup finals but also make some significant contributions on the pitch. The excellent win against Mexico will long be remembered, as well as the victory over Norway. Everything went wrong of course for England in the later stages of that semi-final against Argentina.

The confirmed Newcastle United team v Bayer Leverkusen has now been announced. Matthias Jaissle today taking charge of his third NUFC match. The first friendly of the summer, with Eddie Howe in charge, had been a behind closed doors 3-0 win over Darlington. Then a 1-1 draw at Gateshead, the first pre-season friendly in front of fans. The third one a 4-1 defeat at Bristol City, which proved to be Eddie Howe’s very final Newcastle United match.

Matthias Jaissle has released a personal statement a week ahead of the Premier League season kicking off. The new Newcastle United boss having only been in the job for a couple of weeks so far. Matthias Jaissle declaring via official club media: “I’d like to start with a thank you for the incredible welcome I have received since I arrived at the club last week.