PFA set to wade in on ludicrous Newcastle-Tottenham end-of-season friendly

The Professional Footballers' Association is likely to get involved following Newcastle and Tottenham’s ludicrous decision to stage an end-of-season friendly in Australia.

The pair will meet in Melbourne on May 22, three days after the final round of Premier League matches, with both intending to take all of their international stars on a 21,000-mile round trip – even if they have summer commitments with their countries.

Gareth Southgate has already questioned the wisdom of the move and understands that the PFA, who have long-lobbied for a reduction in fixtures on the grounds of player welfare, will be in touch with members who are affected.

Some have also wondered how the gas-guzzling, globe-trotting trip sits with the Premier League’s new Environmental Sustainability Commitment, which was only announced last month and which ‘introduces a minimum standard of action on environmental issues across the clubs and the league’.

Eyebrows were raised at Liverpool’s training ground recently, when rivals Manchester City’s Under 23s turned up for their match in the first team’s bus – emblazoned with the five trophies the club won last season.

Some have wondered if the move was a cheeky attempt by City officials at re-emphasising their superiority last year amid a growing and not-altogether friendly rivalry between the Premier League heavyweights.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has mentioned 100,000 as a potential capacity for a new Old Trafford and it would appear Manchester United already have people on the case who can make that work.

Stadium designers Populous were brought in by the Glazers to look at plans to refurbish or rebuild the club’s iconic home and their subsequent proposals have been scrutinised by Ratcliffe’s INEOS people.

Last week,