Newcastle Preseason Match Against Everton at Murrayfield Stadium
Newcastle step up their summer work on Wednesday with a trip north of the border, meeting Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh as preseason starts to sharpen into something more serious.
It’s the Magpies’ fourth public friendly of the summer and it comes on the back of a 2-1 win over Valencia at Mestalla, a result that offered early encouragement under new head coach Matthias Jaissle. Three warm-up games remain — including this one — before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Liverpool on August 23 looms into view.
Jaissle’s next look at his squad
The scoreboard still sits behind the stopwatch in importance right now. Jaissle’s priority is clear: performance, fitness, and patterns of play as he beds in his ideas in just his second game in charge.
That gives him room to tinker. The German is expected to rotate from the side that started in Spain, testing combinations and pushing competition for places. One player has already kicked that door open.
Yoane Wissa, who struck both goals in the win over Valencia, is driving hard for a place in the starting XI. Another strong display in Edinburgh would strengthen his claim to be part of Jaissle’s first-choice group when the real business begins.
Not everyone made it through the weekend unscathed. Anthony Elanga is set to miss out after picking up an injury against Valencia, a precautionary absence that opens minutes for others in the attacking positions.
Everton provide a Premier League yardstick
This is no low-key run-out against lower-league opposition. Facing fellow Premier League rivals gives Newcastle a more honest gauge of where they stand with just over a week to go before the season starts.
Everton arrive with more preseason minutes in their legs. They have already played five friendlies and head to Edinburgh trying to respond to a 3-1 defeat to Stuttgart, a result that underlined how much work still lies ahead for David Moyes.
Moyes, like Jaissle, is still moulding his squad and sharpening fitness levels, using this stretch of games to build rhythm and resilience. Murrayfield, more accustomed to rugby’s roar, will stage a different kind of physical test as two English top-flight sides try to accelerate their preparations.
For Newcastle, it’s another checkpoint on the road to Liverpool at St James’ Park. For Everton, a chance to show they are further along than that Stuttgart scoreline suggests. Preseason or not, both managers will be watching closely.
