Pre-season has started for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side are currently in Germany of course as they prepare for next season in the Premier League and domestic cups, which begins little under a month away now. Naturally, a lot of the talk involving Newcastle of late has been centred around off-field matters. Howe is being linked with the England job, while owners PIF have brought in both a new sporting director and a new performance director in Paul Mitchell and James Bunce. Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have also left St James’ Park, news that is thought to have hit Howe hard. Al…