'I tracked down Newcastle stars banned from entering US for pre-season tour'
Eddie Howe will be relieved to get his squad through passport control and on the team bus to Atlanta later today.
That’s because Toon tours to the United States have been beset with glitches and visa problems in the past, to the detriment of pre-season preparations… but sometimes to the advantage of lucky journalists, including me.
Howe might feel fortunate that he is only missing Joelinton from his travelling party which flew out of Glasgow on Wednesday morning the night after beating Rangers 2-1. The Brazilian was in London today trying to secure a visa to play in the Premier League Summer Series including games against Brighton, Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Howe explained: “There was a late complication. Joe had to go to London and we hope he can join us in America, within a couple of days.” Well, that’s good news if it happens.
You’ll be wondering if the delay has anything to do with Joelinton’s court appearance in January. He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £31,085 after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
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But 12 years ago, then boss Alan Pardew wasn’t so lucky. He lost three players for their trip to America….involving armed robbery, assault and a dispute over a dental bill!
Midfielder Joey Barton and striker Nile Ranger failed to get visas for the tour for their previous criminal convictions. Barton was sentenced to six months in prison for an assault, which occurred outside a McDonald’s restaurant in Liverpool, three years earlier.
Ranger was turned down for his part in an armed robbery four years ago which earned him 11 weeks in a young offenders’ institute. Barton wasn’t happy.
Joey Barton missed a pre-season tour 12 years ago as his assault conviction meant he was denied a visa (PA)He tweeted at the time: “It is total hypocrisy considering what they get up to but rules are rules. They told me I am not allowed in until I have five years without any trouble. Three years down, two years to go…”
Then there was Cabaye, a mercurial midfield general for the last Newcastle side to qualify for Europe. He was denied entry after being accused of not paying for treatment on his teeth in the US, when paying for Lille.
He argues, ultimately correctly, that the bill had been paid. “It was a minor incident involving a bill. He claims he paid it and they claim he didn't,” explained Pardew.
All very unfortunate for the players, but not necessarily reporters. Cabaye and Barton were dispatched to a low key pre-season tour of Holland with the juniors, which must have been strange for two of the club’s leading lights.
Luckily for me, I was 50 miles away in Northern Germany spending two days with Sunderland, and their manager Steve Bruce, going behind the scenes at pre-season. That was a great experience.
And having bagged a load of Sunderland interviews, and done a punishing running session, only to be told my fastest sprinting was the same speed that Lee Cattermole ran for 6k during a game, it was time to switch to Newcastle.
Locating the youth team hotel, a brooding chateaux style place, was easy, and we pitched up on the off chance of an interview. Cabaye was obliging, relishing the chance to practice his English, and was full of ambition for his new move.
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And Barton too was full of charm, even tweeting how pleased he was to see two journalists in the depths of the Dutch countryside. Howe’s got away lightly with just one player delayed for their exciting trip to Philadelphia, Atlanta and New Jersey.
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