MANAGER

Rafa Benitez

STAR MAN

Jonjo Shelvey

LAST SEASON

1st (Championship)

TOP SCORER

Dwight Gayle (23)

KEY INS

Jacob Murphy (Norwich, £12m), Christian Atsu (Chelsea, £6.2m), Florian Lejeune (Eibar, £8.7m), Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, £4m), Mikel Merino (Borussia Dortmund, loan)

Christian Atsu

KEY OUTS

Lewis Gibson (Everton, £6m), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest, £2m)

REASONS TO BE POSITIVE

With Benitez at the helm, there should be real optimism they can soar to safety. In Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Jonjo Shelvey they possess experience and proven quality.

REASONS TO BE PESSIMISTIC

Benitez’s bond with the fans is sensational, but less than stable with thrifty chairman Mike Ashley, with their promotion campaign littered with arguments over financial backing.

ONE TO WATCH

Mikel Merino was among La Liga’s brightest talents just two seasons ago.

Mikel Merino

EXPECTATION

Newcastle are a big club and with Benitez in possession of talented players, fans will be hoping for a campaign without a relegation fight and even a push for the top 10.

REALITY

The season is unlikely to pass without an Ashley/Benitez war of words which could derail progress. Likely to land safely in mid-table though, with their strikers firing them out of a relegation battle if one ensues.