As the North East was battered by 100 mile an hour winds on Thursday, Newcastle United players were subjected to a horror landing at the city’s airport in the early hours of the morning.

Several players were petrified by the turbulent flight from Swansea which followed their 3-0 defeat on Wednesday night, and at least two were heard screaming.

The Newcastle plane, which is used for every away game bar Sunderland and during last season’s Europa League campaign, was hit by high winds during landing.

Manager Alan Pardew revealed several players were unhappy with flying at the best of times and the last night flight had tested even the strongest nerves. But the modern footballer has to live with the inconvenience of flying.

He said: ‘We’ve had some hairy journeys in the past, a couple of fly-bys, as you do in the modern game.

It was a little bit hairy last night and there was a bit of applause at the back of the plane when we landed. But I didn’t hear any screaming from the players.

‘John Carver had a little bit of a wobble, he wasn’t so brave and looked a bit white when we got off.'