Eddie Howe says Newcastle need 'world-class' facilities if the club is to realise its ambitions and keep their top stars happy, after Mail Sport revealed an industry-leading firm of architects will design a new training ground.
US-based company Populous will provide the plans for a state-of-the-art complex that Newcastle's Saudi-led owners hope will be the envy of the Premier League. Populous were the brains behind Real Madrid's training centre and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Currently, Howe and his players are based at their out-dated Benton site and, while efforts have been made to improve those facilities, they are still way behind the standard of other top-flight clubs.