06:45 PM BST
Howe gets Keegan’s blessing
Newcastle’s new messiah – manager Eddie Howe – met their former messiah – ex-player and manager Kevin Keegan – on an emotional night for the Geordie faithful in the Toon on Monday.
Telegraph Sport’s northern football writer Luke Edwards was there, and filed this colourful report about the get-together, during which Keegan predicted that Howe would finally end Newcastle’s 54-year wait for a first major trophy.
Ever the optimist, Keegan said it could be the Premier League or Champions League title this season!
06:37 PM BST
Willock returns
Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock returned to training last week and could feature tonight after five months out with hamstring and Achilles injuries.
The former Arsenal man was key to Newcastle’s surprise success last season, but has not played since May.
Willock, 24, has also been on the pitch already this evening and could be on the bench when the match starts.
06:30 PM BST
Tonali on the pitch
The big talking point on Tyneside ahead of the match has been regarding the future of Newcastle’s Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, who faces a lengthy ban over alleged breaches of betting regulations in his native country.
However, the £53 million summer signing is understood to be available tonight and has already been out on the pitch at St James’ Park.
Yesterday, Newcastle manager Eddie Jones said: “I’m expecting him to be available tomorrow. I’m in a position where I’ll plan like that until told differently, I can’t second guess what’s going to happen. He’s trained today [Tuesday] and he’s available.”
Tonali, whose agent Giuseppe Riso said the player is living with a “gambling addiction”, was applauded warmly by Newcastle fans during Saturday’s 4-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
06:23 PM BST
Heady times in Newcastle
After 14 wretched years under the ownership of Michael Ashley, Newcastle United fans – and players – are still pinching themselves at where they find themselves this season.
Eddie Howe’s side start tonight’s match sitting of Champions League Group F and knowing that victory against Borussia Dortmund at a no-doubt raucous St James’ Park will put them in a fine position to reach the knockout stages on their return to the elite competition after 20 years out.
The started this season’s campaign with a battling and highly credible 0-0 draw away to AC Milan, but it was a match described as a sobering reality check for Newcastle, who were made to look inferior by the Italian side. However, any lingering feelings of imposter syndrome were booted high and far on a pulsating night at St James’ Park in the second round of fixtures three weeks ago, when Newcastle dismantled Paris St-Germain 4-1.
One of Newcastle’s local heroes, midfielder Sean Longstaff, admitted this week that he can hardly believe how far the club have come since being bottom of the Premier League two years ago.
Asked if he has to pinch himself, Longstaff, who scored in the win over PSG, said: “Yes, considering probably where me and a lot of the lads were two-and-a-half years ago.
“To think you’d be sitting in this position and doing a press conference before a Champions League game seemed nearly impossible.
“I think now we’re just trying to enjoy the momentum and the good times. A lot of it has been a long time coming and probably something that we didn’t think would happen, so for us to be in this position now is a real privilege.”
Tonight’s visitors Borussia Dortmund are bottom of the group on one point but dangerous and vastly experienced in the competition.
Their manager Edin Terzic said: “When you look at this group that we’re in, you can see the strength of it. Newcastle are top of the group, but only three points ahead [of Dortmund], only two games are gone, so it’s really tight. We need to produce a very good performance so that we can earn a victory.”
