Al-Hilal 0-5 Newcastle: Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Dylan Stephenson score in Magpies win

Joelinton and Miguel Almiron scoring goals for fun and Loris Karius pulling off wonder saves – now there is a sentence you would not have expected to read a few years back.

This was Karius’ first appearance for an English club since the 2018 Champions League final with Liverpool, when his errors led to two goals in a 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid.

The German resurfaced in September as emergency cover for Nick Pope and this, a 5-0 victory over Saudi champions Al-Hilal, was his first start for any senior side in 22 months. He certainly did not look rusty. He was more like rush hour traffic here in Riyadh – impassable.

Brazilian star Joelinton scored a brace during Newcastle’s mid-season friendly win

Miguel Almiron also scored two as the Premier League side stormed to victory in Saudi Arabia

Eddie Howe sports a casual look as he watches training at the Al-Hilal training centre

Jacob Murphy lifts the Diriyah Season Cup after Newcastle’s convincing win on Thursday

Indeed, in 45 minutes on the pitch Karius made three stops worthy of note. The last of those was to deny Odion Ighalo, another name from Premier League days of old. That save was an instinctive grab on the goal-line after the former Manchester United striker had hooked on target from barely three yards out.

Eddie Howe would like to keep Karius at St James’ Park beyond January – the head coach believes he has improved for his time at the club – and, given he is still just 29 years old, it would appear a savvy move.

Karius’ efforts, a double apiece for Joelinton and Almiron and a late Dylan Stephenson strike secured what proved an easy victory at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium in the Saudi capital, where Newcastle have spent the past week training ahead of their return to domestic action. 

They were even presented with a trophy amid fireworks, streamers and ticker-tape at end. Even the World Cup winners across the border in Qatar may not be treated to this splendour.

Youngster Dylan Stephenson on the ball during one of Newcastle’s training sessions

The Magpies squad pose as they set off for their mid-season preparations on Sunday afternoon

But a word on Joelinton and Almrion. Neither player enjoyed the easiest of starts following club-record arrivals but, under Howe, they look worth every penny and more of the combined £60million it took to bring them to Tyneside.

Joelinton netted twice before half-time, the first a header from Jacob Murphy’s cross before finishing through the legs of the goalkeeper after sprinting onto a Joe Willock throughball.

One concern for Howe was an injury to Chris Wood, forcing the striker to retire before the break. With Almiron in this scoring form, however, it is less of a worry. He arrived in the second half and produced two superb finishes – a precision steer into the bottom corner and side-footed volley – before teenager Stephenson converted at the far post with his first goal for his hometown club.

Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was present, sat alongside co-owner Amanda Staveley. Their first piece of January business? Well, that should probably be a contract extension for Karius.

Loris Karius has looked impressive in the few opportunities he’s had for Newcastle