Newcastle teenager shows he can be next Guimaraes against Gateshead
Newcastle teenager shows he can be next Guimaraes against Gateshead
Luke EdwardsSat, July 25, 2026 at 2:10 PM UTC
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Sean Steur completed 84 of his 88 passes against Gateshead - Serena Taylor/Getty ImagesGateshead 1 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw by Gateshead in their second pre-season friendly of the summer. A 79th-minute own-goal saved the Premier League club’s blushes but what did we learn from the match?
Sean Steur offers glimpse of future
Steur did not grab many headlines when he arrived from Ajax for £20m earlier this month because of Sandro Tonali’s move to Tottenham Hotspur. But those familiar with Dutch football would have been excited that Newcastle had signed him.
The 18-year-old has impressed with his performances in training and gave a glimpse of his significant potential in his first public display. He is young and sources have told Telegraph Sport that he must develop physically before he is ready to play every week in the Premier League – but you can already see he has a very high ceiling.
As you would expect from a player described as Ajax’s best midfield prospect for a generation, he is assured on the ball. He is also a progressive passer, always looking to break the lines to get his team moving forward. Eddie Howe will love him.
Whisper it, but there were shades of Bruno Guimarães in his style of play, in the way he took the ball under pressure, in tight spaces, and played on the turn. Patience will be needed but the signs are really encouraging.
Bruno Guimarães questions loom large
Guimarães’s future is all supporters have wanted to speak about for weeks. I was at a wedding on Friday and it felt like everyone asked me about it at some point – including the bride and groom immediately after completing their first dance.
It has already become a summer-long transfer saga that has not progressed since Arsenal’s interest was revealed last month. Telegraph Sport has repeatedly checked whether there have been any fresh developments over the past week and the answer from senior Newcastle sources has remained consistent: there are no talks ongoing and nothing has accelerated, despite claims Arsenal were preparing an official £70m bid.
Bruno Guimaraes is expected back in Newcastle training next week - Getty Images
However, Newcastle need clarity from their captain. He is due back for pre-season next week and is expected to fly to Spain for their training camp on July 31. He has intimated he would like to move to Arsenal but unless Newcastle receive a bid that matches their asking price, he and his representatives have been told he will not be allowed to leave.
Fabian Schär is a squad player, not a starter
He has been a brilliant player for Newcastle, but at the age of 34 and coming off the back of a serious ankle injury, he looked understandably rusty against Gateshead.
Fabian Schar has been out of action since January - Scott Heppell/Reuters
This will be the former Switzerland international’s ninth season at St James’ Park and he was at fault for giving away a soft free-kick that led to Gateshead scoring first.
Schar accepted a contract extension earlier this summer on reduced terms and although Howe values his quality and experience, he is going to be a back-up centre-back this season.
Sean Neave needs a loan move
The 19-year-old started the game as Newcastle’s centre-forward as Will Osula was missing and Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were given additional time off after playing in the World Cup for Germany and DR Congo respectively.
But those players will return to training next week and, although Neave forced a good save in the first half, he is not ready to start in the Premier League. There is little point keeping him around as a fourth-choice striker when he needs to be playing regularly at this stage of his career.
Sean Neave (centre) battles to retain possession against the Heed - Richard Sellers/PA
A loan move is on the cards and he could be a really smart signing for a Championship club or a team competing at the top of League One. The most important thing is that he gets regular senior games rather than hangs around at Newcastle on the fringes of the first-team squad.
03:06pm
Howe: Guimarães situation not the same as Isak’s last summer
02:34pm
Next stop: Bristol
Eddie Howe’s side will head down to Ashton Gate before jetting off to La Manga for a training camp on July 31, which will feature many of those who played in the World Cup, including Bruno Guimarães who has been linked with a move to Arsenal.
In Spain, Newcastle will face Valencia at the Mestalla, before returning to the UK to play Everton at Murrayfield. They will then host Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg at St James’ Park for their final tune-up matches before the Premier League season starts.
This is their pre-season schedule in full:
Jul 18: Newcastle 3 Darlington 0
Jul 25: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
Jul 29: Bristol City vs Newcastle
Aug 8: Valencia vs Newcastle
Aug 12: Everton vs Newcastle
Aug 15: Newcastle vs Bayer Leverkusen
Aug 16: Newcastle vs Strasbourg
02:30pm
A frustrating afternoon for Newcastle
Jason Tindall and Eddie Howe watch on as their side are held to a 1-1 draw by Gateshead - Richard Sellers/PA
Lewis Hall was at the heart of the visitors’ equaliser - Richard Sellers/PA
02:20pm
Full time: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
The referee brings this contest to a close and it finishes a goal apiece at Gateshead International Stadium. Not the result Howe was hoping for, but he can at least find some comfort in a positive showing from new signing Steur in the heart of midfield.
Newcastle ended up with 76 per cent of the ball and created three ‘big chances’ but lacked the cutting edge in the final third to make that dominance tell. Credit must go to Gateshead who defended resolutely and took their best chance of the match.
02:18pm
90mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
The hosts have near enough seven bodies in their back line and Newcastle are struggling to find a way through.
02:15pm
87mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
Bone picks Pivas’ pocket on the edge of the box but the Serbian defender does well to recover and Jaouen gets a rare touch on the ball as he clears his lines.
02:14pm
85mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
Newcastle have five minutes, plus added time, to grab a go-ahead goal. Plenty of industry on show from the youngsters who have come on, but the play has largely been restricted to a midfield slug-fest in the last minutes.
02:11pm
82mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1
Triple substitution from Howe. Hall, Ramsey and Willock make way for Salia, Munda and Charlton.
02:07pm
GOAL! Newcastle back on level terms
Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1 (OG) Hall’s cross from the left in turned by Williams. Newcastle had been turning the screw as Gateshead dropped deeper and deeper.
02:05pm
78mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
The stadium announcer tells us that there are 7,195 people at this afternoon’s match.
Sanusi and Park replace Murphy and Barnes.
02:00pm
72mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
There is the first yellow card of the match. Home lands an overzealous challenge on Willock in the centre of the pitch and receives a booking for his troubles.
Ferreira is then played into the left channel and unleashes a shot which is turned behind for a corner by Desbois, who has been awesome this afternoon.
01:58pm
70mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Jaouen, Miley and Ferreira replace Pope, Shahar and Neave.
01:57pm
69mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Gateshead are sitting deeper meaning that their penalty area is often getting quite congested.
There are opportunities for the hosts to counter, though, and Boatswain has the chance to play in Telford but severely overhits the through-ball.
01:54pm
66mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
A note on Steur... He’s completed 65 of his 68 attempted passes so far. That’s 96 per cent. Impressive stuff.
01:52pm
64mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Hall falls on to the ball under pressure on the byline. The referee awards a free-kick to Gateshead and Hall protests his case. Just not happening for the left-back, who has been given the licence to get forward.
01:48pm
60mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Schar makes way for Pivas at the hour mark. Gateshead respond with a double change.
01:47pm
58mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Hall is brought down in the Gateshead box by Ferguson as he tears towards the byline. He wants a penalty but the referee awards a corner – there is a momentary confrontation between the two players but they settle their differences quickly.
01:43pm
55mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Murphy switches wings to create an overload with Barnes down the left and flashes a cross into the box which is dealt with by Gateshead. Newcastle need more invention like that if they are to break down this stubborn Gateshead side.
01:41pm
52mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Chance for Newcastle! Steur releases Barnes into the left channel and he plays the ball across goal but just in front of Neave who had the freedom of Tyneside at the back post. Desbois is called into action moments later, punching the ball clear after some pinball in the box.
01:37pm
50mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Steur shifts the ball on to his left foot and has a go from 25 yards out, firing the ball high and wide. Good intent, though.
01:36pm
49mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Ramsey is dropping in to receive the ball to feet. His average position in the first half was significantly more withdrawn than Willock’s, and Howe will surely look to get him further up the pitch to affect play in the final third in the second period.
01:34pm
46mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
An immediate chance for the hosts’ front man Boatswain at the start of the second half. The ball just gets away from him.
01:33pm
Back under way
Newcastle have work to do and, unlike last weekend against Darlington, Howe sticks with the same XI at the start of the second period. Gateshead also unchanged.
01:25pm
A penny for Eddie Howe’s thoughts at half-time...
Eddie Howe cuts a frustrated figure on the Gateshead International Stadium touchline - Richard Sellers/PA
01:23pm
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The minute’s silence for Kevin Keegan
01:19pm
Half time: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Newcastle go into the break a goal down. There have been chances for the visitors, who dominated the ball in that first period. Expect changes at the interval.
01:15pm
42mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
How has Barnes missed that?! A lovely ball in from the right comes through a thicket of limbs and lands at the winger’s feet only a couple of yards out from goal. He can’t make a meaningful contact on the ball and the chance passes him by.
01:10pm
38mins: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0
Gateshead’s goal came against the run of play and was there first shot on target. It’s not great from Fabian Schar, who conceded the free kick competing for a long ball down the middle and Nick Pope was a little slow off his line to smother the shot too.
Gateshead’s Luke Supyk scores his fourth goal in four pre-season matches - Richard Sellers/PA
01:08pm
GOAL! Gateshead take surprise lead
Gateshead 1 Newcastle 0 (Supyk) Gateshead win a free-kick 25 yards out, just to the right of the D. Chadwick’s initial effort ricochets through the wall and new signing Supyk is first on to the scene to prod the ball beyond Pope. A calamity at the back for Howe’s side!
01:05pm
32mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Neave comes close to opening the scoring, firing an effort across the face of goal that goes behind for a corner.
Hall then gets a shot away from the edge of the box, but cannot keep his half-volley down and the ball sails over the bar.
01:04pm
32mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle look most dangerous when Schar steps up and punches in those line-breaking passes. Gateshead defending resolutely, though, keeping things compact across the backline.
01:02pm
29mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Murphy earns his side a free-kick down the right. He delivers the ball himself, with the box loaded with Schar and Murphy, and the former steals in to the near post but cannot quite stoop down low enough to get a meaningful contact on the ball. Desbois gathers without fuss.
12:58pm
26mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have won a glut of corners down their left, all of which have been taken short. The latest is played out to Steur who rains in a cross which is claimed by the goalkeeper.
12:56pm
24mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Sean Steur looks like a player... some really nice touches from the young Dutchman. He is always looking to make a progressive pass and has been a real bright spark. Newcastle have dominated the game. As you would expect against opposition four divisions below them
12:55pm
21mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Another tidy involvement from Steur, who disguises a pass to Ramsey on the edge of the box. The ball is worked into the path of Murphy and deflects out for a corner. The former Ajax midfielder is growing in confidence.
Hall puts in another ball from the left, this time to the back post, where the ball is headed away by Ferguson.
12:53pm
18mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
New signing Steur is starting to creep forward, carrying the ball nicely and picking it back up in the right channel. He stands a cross up to the near post but Murphy’s header is dealt with by Desbois.
Hall works a yard of space in a dangerous area down the left moments later, but the ball ricochets back off him and out for goal-kick.
12:49pm
17mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Hall punches in a lovely ball down the line for Barnes to run on to, but the move is snuffed out by Robinson.
12:48pm
16mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
It does seem strange that this game has not sold out. There are thought to be about 7,000 fans inside the stadium, which once had a capacity of more than 11,000 when it was one of the country’s premier athletics venues. They even used to have Diamond League events here not so long ago.
But the capacity has been steadily reduced for safety reasons and it is rarely used for anything other than local athletic events and Gateshead FC games.
There were officially only 50 tickets left for sale a few minutes before kick-off, but there are lots of empty seats.
12:47pm
14mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Chadwick lofts a tidy cross in from the left, but Boatswain’s header drifts wide of the mark. The chance came off a decent spell of possession from Cattermole’s side, the most fluent they have been in this match so far.
12:45pm
12mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Ramsey regains possession high up the pitch and releases Barnes who plays in Murphy, but the Newcastle forward mistimes his run and the linesman’s flag goes up. A promising counter.
12:42pm
9mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Ramsey is brought down on the edge of the box as he tries to break free and the referee awards a free-kick. There are a few contenders to take it (Schar, Barnes, Hall) but in the end it is Barnes who gets a shot away, but his curled effort flies just wide of the mark.
12:39pm
6mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Another weighted ball over the top from Schar puts Anifowose under pressure in the left channel but his ball across the face of goal is cleared to safety by a team-mate.
12:37pm
5mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle circulating the ball in front of Gateshead’s first line of pressure. The hosts regain possession but struggle to find a way through Newcastle’s midfield.
12:35pm
2mins: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 0
Schar getting a few early touches as he makes his return from injury. He plays a long, raking diagonal out to Barnes who cannot quite get past his man.
Neave tests Desbois with a well-struck effort off the next phase of play.
12:32pm
Kick-off
We are under way on Tyneside.
12:31pm
The teams emerge from the tunnel
The officials and both sets of players line up behind a banner with the message ‘Rest in peace, Kevin Keegan’. Newcastle are in their new navy-blue away shirt, with Gateshead in their home white-and-black kit. A minute’s silence is then observed immaculately.
12:26pm
Fans pay respect to Newcastle legend Keegan
The tributes left in honour of Kevin Keegan outside St James’ Park is a sight to behold, with flowers, shirts and scarves covering the ground and steps in the south-west corner. It is a very moving thing to behold as people come to pay their respects to the Newcastle legend.
Tributes have been laid outside St James’ Park in memory of Kevin Keegan - Serena Taylor/Getty Images
There will also be a minute’s silence before today’s game against Gateshead.
12:23pm
Gateshead put three past Hebburn Town
Some time tidy centre-forward play from Levi Amantchi in last week’s 3-3 draw. The target man has since been loaned to Kidderminster Harriers...
12:14pm
Newcastle’s transfer business so far
Incomings Bazoumana Touré ⇠ Hoffenheim, £43mAladji Bamba ⇠ Monaco, £30mSean Steur ⇠ Ajax, £20mEwen Jaouen ⇠ Stade Reims, £18m
OutgoingsSandro Tonali ⇢ Tottenham Hotspur, £92.5mAnthony Gordon ⇢ Barcelona, £68mKieran Trippier ⇢ Wolverhampton Wanderers, FreeMatt Targett ⇢ Hull City, FreeEmil Krafth, FreeJohn Ruddy, Free
12:11pm
The four big problems Eddie Howe faces at NewcastleLingering negativity
It has been a difficult and, at times, acrimonious 12 months for Eddie Howe, who must have wondered whether the job was still worth the hassle given the criticism and online vitriol he received at times last season.
Few would have blamed him if he had quit, but Howe has always been fully committed and always knew there would be a period like this to come through.
He has been in the job almost five years and last season was the first time he had been vilified by a section of the fanbase. It left its mark. The boos that followed defeats at St James’ Park hurt and he worried the unity that had powered the team’s success had fractured irreparably.
Newcastle lost more games than they won last season - Serena Taylor/Getty Images
The apparent collective shrug that greeted another run to the Carabao Cup semi-final, while guiding the team into the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time was a source of bewilderment and frustration.
Howe has not complained or moaned. Although he wobbled towards the end of last season and there were some calling for him to be sacked, he was supported and encouraged by those above him. That loyalty mattered.
The problem is, negativity lingers in the fanbase. Even a picture of Howe at pre-season training, posted on social media by the club, led to abusive comments questioning his ability and character. Some of it was toxic. It was rightly called out by other supporters.
12:06pm
The last meeting: Gateshead 2 Newcastle 3
Goals from Elliot Anderson (wonder what happened to him?!), Allan Saint-Maximin and Jay Turner-Cooke helped Newcastle overturn a 2-0 half-time deficit when they last visited Gateshead International Stadium in 2023.
12:00pm
Cattermole: ‘What a game for my players’
Speaking through Gateshead’s club media, Cattermole said of facing Newcastle: “It’s obviously a different test. We have to respect the opposition, they’re a high-quality team and it might not be what we’re getting in our league but we’ll still try to implement what we believe we want to be in and out of possession. It’ll be a great physical challenge for us.
He added: “They [my players] have all shown up great. What a game for them. What a game for them to go and test yourself against some big names and fantastic coaching staff, for us all it’s a great challenge for us. We hope we give them a good test, we hope we give them the challenge they want as well. I played in many of these games as a player as well. We expect it to be competitive.”
11:57am
No sign of Botman or Osula on team sheet
A classic first-game-of-pre-season vibe to Newcastle’s team sheet as established stars rub shoulders with youngsters from the academy.
Only one of their four summer signings, former Ajax midfielder Sean Steur, starts the game and there will be a lot of interest in the 18-year-old. The youngster has impressed in training over the last couple of weeks but it is thought he has a lot of work to do physically to be ready for the Premier League.
Full-back Leo Shahar was in and around the first team last season as was striker Sean Neave. Alex Murphy, who started one game in the Champions League last season is expected to go out on loan before the window shuts, but starts alongside Fabian Schar in the centre of defence.
Worryingly there is no sign of Sven Botman and Will Osula who both played in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Darlington last weekend.
Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley are still being eased back into things after injuries at the end of last season.
Another new signing, goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, is on the bench and will play the second half against their National League neighbours.
Gateshead lost manager Rob Elliot to Carlisle at the end of last season and are now managed by former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole.
11:54am
Keegan scarves on sale outside the ground
Vendors display Kevin Keegan merchandise - Ed Sykes/Getty Images
Ed Sykes/Getty Images
11:51am
Newcastle arrive at Gateshead International Stadium
11:48am
Newcastle’s pre-season schedule
Jul 18: Newcastle 3 Darlington 0 Jul 25: Gateshead vs NewcastleJul 29: Bristol City vs NewcastleAug 8: Valencia vs NewcastleAug 12: Everton vs NewcastleAug 15: Newcastle vs Bayer LeverkusenAug 16: Newcastle vs Strasbourg
11:42am
Gateshead team news
11:41am
Newcastle team news
Fabian Schär returns from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since January, but only one of Newcastle’s four summer signings (Sean Steur) starts.
11:36am
Newcastle and Gateshead to pay tribute to Keegan
Welcome to live coverage of Newcastle United’s pre-season friendly against North-East neighbours Gateshead. Eddie Howe’s side make the three-mile journey south of the River Tyne having beaten Darlington 3-0 in their first outing of the summer last weekend. The Magpies’ National League opponents this afternoon, helmed by former Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole, have already played three times in pre-season, thrashing Blyth 6-0 and drawing against Heaton Stannington and Hebburn Town. The Heed threatened a shock win in their last meeting with Newcastle three summers’ ago, leading 2-0 at the interval before conceding three second-half goals.
This contest at Gateshead International Stadium will be Newcastle’s first match since the death of Kevin Keegan and the club have confirmed that a minute of silence will be observed before kick-off. Newcastle’s men’s, women’s and academy teams will wear black armbands for all pre-season matches this summer.
Newcastle will welcome Liverpool, with whom Keegan enjoyed success in the 1970s, to St James’ Park for their Premier League opener, and the two sides are in talks over a suitable pre-match tribute. Flowers, messages and mementos have been laid outside Newcastle’s ground since Keegan’s death on Monday, including a heartfelt message penned by fellow club legend Alan Shearer, which read: “I hope you realised how much you meant, to me, to this club, to everyone. Thank you does not seem enough. Rest In Peace Boss. Alan Shearer.”
With regards to the football, there is an acceptance among Newcastle supporters that, having finished 12th in the Premier League last season and lost Anthony Gordon, Kieran Trippier and Sandro Tonali, this is a summer of transition. The uncertainty surrounding the future of £100m-rated club captain Bruno Guimarães, who is on the radar of Arsenal, will be a concern; Newcastle will be keen to avoid a repeat of the furore that circled Alexander Isak’s departure last summer. Guimarães will join the team next week following his World Cup exploits with Brazil and is expected to take part in Newcastle’s La Manga training camp, which starts on July 31.
Summer signings Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen were each handed 45 minutes in the behind-closed-doors victory over Darlington, during which Howe used different XIs for the two halves. Bazoumana Touré – the £50m winger acquired from Hoffenheim – is expected to feature today having returned from his post-World Cup holiday. Yesterday Newcastle announced the arrival of midfielder Aladji Bamba, the France youth international, from Monaco and he was immediately integrated into team training. There is every possibility that he will feature this afternoon. Gateshead this week announced two signings of their own, as Luke Supyk, the New Zealand Under-20 forward, agreed a two-year deal having scored three goals in pre-season as a trialist. Defender Jack Robinson also joined the club.
Kick-off is at 12.30pm.
Source: “AOL Sports”
