After Newcastle’s latest capitulation at the hands of Chelsea, it was announced that Steve McClaren and his out-of-form squad were heading to La Manga in Spain for five days of training and preparation.
Considering that the Magpies’ next match will not take place until March 3rd, perhaps a few days abroad could boost squad morale and allow injured players to regain full fitness.
Newcastle will be taking on Norwegian side SK Lillestrom in a friendly match in the coming days, so we’ve decided to profile the relatively unknown side.
The club was founded in 1917, and their home ground, the Arasen Stadion, has a capacity of 12,250 people.
They have won the Tippeligaen, which is the Norwegian Premier League, a total of five times, most recently in 1989.
A recent study showed that Lillestrom are the second most supported club in Norway, and if you’re a die-hard Newcastle fan, you’ll know that this won’t be the first time United go head-to-head with the Canaries.
The two teams met back in 2006 in a two-legged Intertoto cup tie, where Newcastle ended up winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Last season, Lillestrom finished 8th in the Tippeligaen, which infuriated most of their fanbase.
Runar Kristinsson is their current head coach, and with the 2016 campaign yet to commence in Norway, his team may not have enough energy or fitness to overcome a Newcastle side more than halfway into the 2015/2016 Premier League season.
However, Lillestrom should not be overlooked and they will more than likely provide a stern test for United, who have looked out of sorts all season.