NEWCASTLE United continued their preparations for the coming season with a 2-0 win at Hull City on Saturday - but new signing Lloyd Kelly didn't feature.

Eddie Howe explains why in this week's North East Notes.

There's also the latest on a couple of ex-Middlesbrough players. And on the subject of Boro, Darlington boss Steve Watson took in one of their games this week...

LLOYD KELLY'S NEWCASTLE SITUATION

Newcastle United newcomers have talked in the past about the adjustment period required when getting to grips with Eddie Howe's high intensity training and demands.

And that's not just limited to players who are getting their first taste of life under Howe.

Lloyd Kelly knows what Newcastle's boss is all about having played for Howe at Bournemouth, but that doesn't mean the switch to join the Magpies this summer has been seamless.

Kelly missed Saturday's friendly win at Hull City on Saturday, with Howe explaining: "I think with Lloyd it's a case of just building his training load. We train differently and there's differences emotionally when you join a new club.

"You just have to give some players that little bit longer to expose them to the really hard yards that we do in pre-season. I know everyone wants to see him and I want to see him. We have to manage that right."

CHUBA AKPOM MIDDLESBROUGH TRUTH

Word got out this week that Middlesbrough's head of recruitment Chris Jones was in the stands to take in Ajax's Europa League qualifying clash against FK Vojvodina on Thursday night, prompting some fans to speculate over the possibility of a Boro return for Chuba Akpom this summer.

Akpom admitted earlier this month that he might have to leave Ajax if he's not going to be a regular starter for new boss Francesco Farioli on the back of a frustrating first year with the Dutch giants.

But regardless of how Akpom's situation plays out in the weeks ahead, he won't be coming back to Boro this summer.

The fact he started the game and Boro had a scout in the stands was just a coincidence. Boro's scouts and recruitment team take in dozens and dozens of games every year and aren't thought to have had one player in mind ahead of the Ajax vs FK Vojvodina game, instead just going with an open mind to see what was an offer.

Boro's small but hard-working scouting team have a vast database of potential targets that is tweaked and adapted on a weekly basis. Players are watched and monitored over a long period of time before Boro make their move. Boro watched Aidan Morris, for example, for more than a year before signing the American international this summer.

As for Akpom, he wants to play regularly after a bit-part role at Ajax last season. He made just eight league starts and two more in European competitions, though still managed to score 15 goals, and said earlier this month: "I want to be part of a team that needs me. I don't think I can sit on the bench as a second striker for another year. If I get more involved in the games this year, then I'll be happy to stay here. If that's not the case, then maybe it's time to look elsewhere. We'll see."

Nottingham Forest were heavily linked in the January window.

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LEWIS O'BRIEN CLOSE TO SECURING NEXT MOVE

Staying with Middlesbrough, Lewis O'Brien is set to make his latest move, with the midfielder heading back to the USA to join LAFC.

O'Brien previously spent time in the MLS with DC United after a transfer to Blackburn dramatically collapsed in the January window last year.

He then joined Middlesbrough 12 months ago and spent last season at the Riverside, but Boro opted against making that deal permanent.

The 25-year-old former Huddersfield midfielder, who has no future at the City Ground, has been linked with Ipswich, Burnley and Sheffield United this summer, but is on the brink of an MLS return to join LAFC, who are currently second in the Western Conference, behind city rivals LA Galaxy. It will be an initial loan with a view to make the deal permanent for £5m, according to reports.

DARLINGTON SCOUTING MISSION

Darlington boss Steve Watson and his assistant Terry Mitchell were spotted at Middlesbrough's friendly at Gateshead this week.

The subject of their scouting mission could well have been Heed forward Aidan Rutledge, who spent the final months of last season on loan at Quakers.

Rutledge scored two goals in six appearances for Darlington, having scored nine in 23 for league rivals Scarborough earlier in the campaign.

Rutledge earned a move to Gateshead last summer having remarkably hit 61 goals in 43 matches for Birtley Town in the Northern League in the 2022/23 season.