Newcastle United were able to deliver a strong squad for their fans after a hectic ending, and a difficult middle period of the summer transfer window.
The club spent big money to strengthen ahead of a Premier League and Champions League campaign under Eddie Howe, which culminated with the Magpies selling star striker Alexander Isak for a British-record fee worth £125m.
But after spending £250m themselves, there is great optimism that the club can put a slow start to the season behind them and get going after the international break. The manager must first decide on what his strongest starting lineup looks like, though, and this is how GIVEMESPORT believe they should look when everyone is available.
Trippier and Schar Axed from Defence
Kieran Trippier
So far this season, defence hasn't been an issue for Newcastle, with two clean sheets in their opening three fixtures. The issue is that those games both finished 0-0, which could allow for some changes to make the team better going forward.
Nick Pope is still the first-choice goalkeeper despite the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale on loan, and Dan Burn is surely a non-negotiable in the centre of defence after becoming an icon at his boyhood club. But while experienced full-back Kieran Trippier, who earns £120,000-a-week, is still good enough to compete, he's not better than Tino Livramento at this stage and the former Chelsea man should be first-choice right-back.
That should open the door for another ex-Chelsea man in Lewis Hall to come back in at left-back, where his energy and quality make a huge difference. Fabian Schar has been a regular partner for Burn at centre-back, but when everyone is fit you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't feel Sven Botman is the best centre-back at the club and the Dutchman should start.
No Room for Joelinton
joelinton
The midfield engine room has been a huge part of the success that Howe has had with the Toon in recent years, and Brazil international Joelinton has been key.
But there is no doubt that Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes offer a little bit more in central midfield on the ball and defensively they are still very strong, so with Howe likely to make a shift in formation, it could see fan-favourite Joelinton be the man to miss out more often than not.
That means the likes of £80,000-a-week star Joe Willock and summer signing Jacob Ramsey are likely to be on the bench regularly too, while youngster Lewis Miley may find it a bit more difficult to find regular minutes.
£180m+ New Look Newcastle Attack
Nick Woltemade Newcastle
After losing Isak to Liverpool, it was imperative that Newcastle strengthened their forward options and they did just that.
The club spent £55m each on Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa from Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively, while the Magpies smashed their transfer record with a £69m plus add-ons deal for Nick Woltemade.
It's been reported all summer that Howe will look to go with a two-striker system regularly this season, and the German is arguably at his best playing just off the front line anyway. All three players should start alongside star man Anthony Gordon, making for an exciting and efficient new attack for fans to enjoy.
Newcastle's Strongest XI: Pope; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon; Wissa.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Schar, Trippier, Thiaw, Joelinton, Ramsey, Willock, Murphy, Osula.
Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Report to get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox.