Newcastle United journalist Lee Ryder caught the attention of many Toon fans after he posted a tweet sharing that Henri Saivet and Dan Barlaser are part of the Newcastle squad currently taking part in a week-long training camp in the Yorkshire countryside.
As per the Toon’s official website, the squad departed for this week-long training camp, which is taking place at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate campus near York, on 19th August.
After Ryder shared that Saivet, who has made just eight senior appearances for the Toon since joining the club in 2016, and Barlaser, a 23-year-old Newcastle United academy graduate who has made just three senior appearances for the club thus far in his career, are taking part in this training camp, many Newcastle fans replied to his tweet to share their thoughts on this news.
Henri Saivet and Dan Barlaser in #nufc squad for York training camp.
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) August 19, 2020
In addition to having made just three senior appearances for the Toon in his career, Barlaser has not played a game for Newcastle United’s senior squad since August 2017. He has spent some time on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United since then.
Some Newcastle fans replied to Ryder’s tweet to share that they are happy to see the 23-year-old getting a chance to train with the senior squad.
Barlaser deserves a chance
— paul edwards (@pauledwards41) August 19, 2020
happy to see barlaser getting a chance
— joe (@nufcrichys) August 19, 2020
Some Toon supporters also shared some positive reactions to this news about Saivet, who has spent some time on loan at Sivasspor and Bursaspor since making his last appearance for the North East club in January 2018.
Tbf saivet is a decent player, he just needs a chance to prove it
— Gaz Tone (@gaztone90) August 19, 2020
I’d rather Saivet than Bentaleb
— GlennO (@glenn2502) August 19, 2020
Other Newcastle fans indicated that they had forgotten about Saivet since the 29-year-old last made an appearance for the Toon.
Saivet, had forgotten about him. Good to see Barlaser and Murphy in the squad
— Michael.Getty86 (@MichaelGetty86) August 19, 2020
Is Saivet still there?
— Rob Hook ? (@Rob_Hook88) August 19, 2020
Meanwhile, some Newcastle supporters reacted negatively to the inclusion of these two players in Newcastle’s training squad, with one Toon fan stating that this ‘shows the lack of progression in this club’ and another Newcastle supporter declaring that this is ‘absolutely pathetic’.
Just shows the lack of progression in this club…
— Callum Irving (@NUFCIrving1010) August 19, 2020
Absolutely pathetic isn’t it.
— Mouth of the Tyne (@ToonMouthTyne) August 19, 2020
One fan even made a rather exaggerated claim that the fact that Saivet and Barlaser are in the group means the Tyneside could end up being relegated. Of course, having been linked to the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly and Edinson Cavani in the past, it comes as no surprise that fans are less than satisfied.
Relegated by Christmas https://t.co/lPqultvhhD
— Chris Noble (@TheChrisNoble) August 19, 2020
Will these players be part of Newcastle United's squad for the 2020/21 campaign?
YES
NO
As per Transfermarkt, both Saivet and Barlaser are under contract with the Toon until the end of June 2021, so perhaps the players can use this opportunity to impress Steve Bruce and make their way into his plans for the forthcoming campaign.
If they fail to do so, it would be surprising to see either of them at the club beyond the end of their current contracts.