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'A football decision': Newcastle boss Eddie Howe defends the club's choice to return to Saudi Arabia for a warm-weather training camp during the World Cup break... as Amnesty international urges the club to show solidarity with oppressed people

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has defended the club's decision to head back to Saudi Arabia for a controversial warm-weather training camp during the forthcoming break for the World Cup.

The Magpies, who travelled to Jeddah in January for similar reasons, will return to the Gulf state and its capital Riyadh between December 4 and 10 and face Pro League champions Al-Hilal in a friendly.

Confirmation of the trip will re-ignite criticism over the club's links to the Middle East nation and its human rights record - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund holds and 80 cent stake in the consortium which bought out Mike Ashley in October last year.