SHOCKING: Jason Tindall role change as Newcastle United put trust in ‘real presence’
Eddie Howe Confirms Jason Tindall Will Retain Key Set-Piece Role Despite Arrival of Specialist Coach Martin Mark
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reaffirmed the importance of assistant coach Jason Tindall in the club’s set-piece setup, even after the summer addition of Martin Mark, a dedicated set-piece specialist. While the arrival of Mark marks a significant step forward in Newcastle’s efforts to enhance their tactical edge, Howe made it clear that Tindall will still play a vital role in this crucial area of the game.
Martin Mark, a highly regarded 31-year-old Danish coach, recently joined Howe’s coaching staff from FC Midtjylland—a club renowned for their innovative and data-driven approach to set-pieces. Mark earned widespread praise in Denmark for his meticulous planning and attention to detail, qualities that have already started to shine through in Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Austria.
According to Howe, Mark’s recruitment was the result of a lengthy process stretching back over two-and-a-half years. During that time, the coaching staff had been seeking the right individual who could bring both technical expertise and the right personality to integrate seamlessly into the group.
“It’s something we’ve been trying to address for some time now—probably two and a half years,” Howe explained. “We were looking for someone who wasn’t just qualified, but also someone who fit in with the dynamics and values of our coaching setup.”
Howe went on to praise Tindall, who has taken on the demanding responsibility of overseeing Newcastle’s set-plays over the last few seasons. “Jason has done an outstanding job handling such a broad remit of set-piece responsibilities,” said Howe. “But it’s an area that’s become so complex and detail-oriented that it really requires someone who can focus on it full-time.”
The Newcastle boss emphasized that Mark’s appointment doesn’t mean a complete overhaul or a one-man takeover of set-piece duties. Instead, the club will take a collaborative approach. Tindall and set-play analyst Kieran Taylor will continue to play integral roles alongside Mark, forming a three-pronged set-piece unit.
“Martin won’t cover everything alone—that’s unrealistic. It’s too big of a task,” Howe admitted. “We’ll divide up the responsibilities. But he’ll definitely play a key role, and we’re confident in his abilities. We’ve had numerous in-depth Zoom meetings with him throughout the summer, and what stood out was not just his knowledge, but his character and professionalism.”
The results of Newcastle’s set-piece work have already been promising. In the 2024-25 Premier League season, the Magpies conceded just eight goals from set-plays—only Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Brentford fared better defensively in that department. Offensively, Newcastle scored 13 goals from set-pieces, only four shy of Arsenal, who topped the league in that category. However, a closer inspection reveals room for growth, with just five of those goals coming from corners—a stat the coaching team will surely target for improvement.
Howe reiterated the scope and complexity of set-piece preparation, describing it as encompassing far more than just corners or attacking free kicks.
“When we talk about set-plays, we’re talking about a whole range of scenarios—corners, indirect and direct free-kicks, goal kicks, both attacking and defending,” Howe noted. “To cover all of that effectively, you simply need multiple people dedicated to the task. It’s not a one-man job, and it never will be.”
With a new season on the horizon, Newcastle United’s coaching staff now has a more specialized structure in place, aimed at gaining fine margins in one of football’s most pivotal areas. As Howe looks to build on last season’s solid set-piece record, the collaborative trio of Mark, Tindall, and Taylor will be tasked with taking Newcastle’s execution to the next level.