Newcastle United’s winless pre-season continued with a demoralizing 1–0 defeat to a K League All-Star side in South Korea, marking a third straight loss for Eddie Howe’s team and raising further concerns ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
On top of that, midfielder Joe Willock was carried off in the second half with an ankle injury, adding to the issues already surrounding the squad after a frustrating summer barred of incoming transfers and mounting absences with more looming in the shape
of an Alexander Isak exit.
More minutes added in Suwon. ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/iW3tujkvkM
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 30, 2025
Kim Jin-gyu scored the game’s only goal in the 36th minute, curling a finish past Nick Pope from the edge of the area after Newcastle’s defense failed to deal with a central break. It was another soft outing in a run of friendlies where Newcastle have now shipped nine goals in three matches.
Newcastle again lined up without Isak, who remains at home and has expressed interest in exploring a move away from the club amid interest from Liverpool. Howe said after the match that he was unaware of any official bids for Isak, but the striker’s continued absence — and the lack of a replacement coming in — is now overshadowing the preseason and casting more doubt than at any time in the past ahead of the Magpies’ return to the Champions League.
Seung-Soo pic.twitter.com/ODtgeiI1Bg
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 30, 2025
In Isak’s place, 21-year-old Will Osula started his third consecutive match, if only because of the ridiculous lack of alternatives. Energetic in flashes as he always is, the Dane struggled to impact the game in the final third, and Newcastle created little to no offensive danger.
The only major addition of the summer—prior to the announcement of Aaron Ramsdale’s loan deal—Anthony Elanga was limited to a second-half appearance and simply couldn’t do that much.
The most worrying moment came on the hour mark when Willock, starting in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali and after the departure of lifelong Magpie Sean Longstaff, was tackled and immediately signaled for medical attention.
Willock was carried off and later spotted with ice strapped to his ankle, but Howe downplayed the severity of the injury, saying, “It doesn’t look like a major, major injury, (but) didn’t look great on the pitch.”
Boss - "Physically, we got everything we wanted from the game." pic.twitter.com/sFEvWcdeg3
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 30, 2025
With Longstaff sold to Leeds United and Sven Botman sidelined by a groin issue, Newcastle’s squad depth is being tested, to say the least.
Emil Krafth started at center-back next to Jamaal Lascelles, and Kim’s goal came after slipping between the pair. The lack of a new right-sided center-back remains an unresolved issue, with no signing completed despite interest in several targets, but no real reports of any talks to complete a transfer in sight.
Newcastle next face Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan before returning to Europe for their final back-to-back pre-season fixtures before the start of the season.
With the Premier League opener at Aston Villa less than three weeks away on Aug. 17, Newcastle still have significant questions to answer, but it’s looking likelier by the minute that the club will remain still and do nothing at all to solve the plethora of issues putting their season in danger of collapsing before even getting started.
More from cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com:
- Craig Hope Tells Us Rafa Staying Is More Than Hope
- Rafa is Staying. Our club is healing.
- Newcastle United leaked jersey is not terrible
- Instant return to the Premier League may not be the best target
- This was a Fun and Cool Thing that Newcastle United did
- Newcastle United's favorite missing man has no intention of staying
- Newcastle United players begin to state their intentions
