Pardew recruits famed fitness guru Downey in bid to end injury woes

By Colin Young

PUBLISHED: 16:55 EST, 15 July 2013 | UPDATED: 16:55 EST, 15 July 2013

Newcastle United have made a significant summer signing by hiring performance director Faye Downey as a fitness consultant.

Boss Alan Pardew has taken on the strength and conditioning coach to try to stop a repeat of last season's numerous injuries.

Newcastle lost the spine of their squad at crucial points and struggled with a Europa League campaign in which they reached the last eight.

Downey helped the England rugby team prepare for the last two World Cups, worked with Leicester Tigers and London Irish, and trained British athletes before the Athens Olympics in 2004. She also coaches teenage British tennis player Oliver Golding.

Pardew, who takes his squad to Portugal this week, is trying to arrange a pre-season friendly with Lille, Mathieu Debuchy and Yohan Cabaye's former club.

Newcastle have a 10-day gap between games against St Mirren and SC Braga in August.

And Pardew will take a first-team squad to face Stuart McCall's Scottish Premier League side Motherwell at Fir Park on Tuesday night.