Dubai: Newcastle United signed off on their visit to the United Arab Emirates with an emphatic 5-0 win over Gulf United.
Continuing his return to full fitness, Alan Saint-Maximin scored two goals with forgotten man Dwight Gayle, while midfielder Joelinton also grabbed the scoresheet in a win against a side managed by former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor. .
The game ended Magpie's second trip to the Middle East in less than two months. They are understood to return to Tyneside in the next 24 hours.
Two players who were not involved in the game but were at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex for the duration of the week-long hot weather camp were Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier.
Howver, both are close to returning to full training.
Arab News understands that a visit to Norwich City on 23 April has been set as a cautious return date for former England striker Wilson.
However, Trippier has indicated that he may return soon.
Speaking to NUFC TV from the Gulf, he said: "The recovery is going really well. The ankle isn't that tight anymore and we've made really good progress since we've been out here. I look forward to pursuing the comeback.
"When you put on the boot, people think it's worse than it really is, or that on crutches, it feels bad. For me, mentally, it was about getting out of the boot, at the right time.
"I'm happy to do my rehab with the team."
Trippier hasn't kicked a ball since being kicked out of Newcastle's home win over Aston Villa in February, a game in which he scored his second winner for the club in less than seven days.
Due to the nature of the injury – a torn metatarsal on the left foot – many feared the player might end the season, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
“I know my body, I know how it is reacting. So far, whatever I am doing in the rehab room, I have no reaction – so it is positive news,” said the former Atletico Madrid fullback he said.
"I want to be on the pitch as fast as possible," Trippier said. "It was a break, we have to keep that in mind. But I'm talking to the manager daily. He's asking me how I'm feeling. And when the right time comes, he'll be the first to know."