Rolando Aarons and Ayoze Perez have cut their summer holidays short and have returned to training in a bid to be ready for pre-season.
The former was promoted to the first-team last season, after working his way through the youth ranks, but suffered a series of injuries that left him sidelined for lengthy spells. While the latter only arrived on Tyneside last summer but burst onto the scene in quite emphatic fashion – scoring seven times in his debut season.
Aarons has begun training with a sports rehabilitation group called ‘Back 2 Action’ and is aiming for a repeat of last season’s success. The 19-year-old is aware that he must impress newly appointed head coach Steve McClaren in order to secure first-team football – after the former England manager insisted it is a clean slate and every player must now prove themselves.
The Geordie faithful will be hoping McClaren can resolve Aarons’ contract issue and tie him down to a new long-term deal.
Tough session of 1v1s at @Back_2_Action One of favourite drills ?⚽️ pic.twitter.com/L4nsllR6zR
— Rolando Aarons (@RolandoAarons) June 27, 2015
Young striker Ayoze Perez has also posted photographs of himself, in the gym, getting ready for pre-season with Newcastle.
Working out at the gym despite the summer holidays to be ready for the preseason. Come on Newcastle! ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ULMTEgqaCT
— Ayoze Perez (@AyozePG) June 27, 2015
Newcastle’s first pre-season game is a short trip to Gateshead International Stadium on July 10th, before jetting off for their training camp in the USA.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have been handed another boost ahead of their opening day fixture as The Chronicle report Steven Taylor will be fit to face Southampton. The 29-year-old was sidelined for five months after rupturing his achilles tendon and was expected to miss the start to the 2015/16 season.
