As the flurry of excitement dies down following the release of the 2026-27 Premier League fixtures, Newcastle United have been left with a clear route to re-establishing themselves as a force at the top end of the table.
Look past the opening-day fixture with Liverpool, and that is an early season schedule which Eddie Howe and his squad must take advantage of.
The challenge of European football is gone, hopefully just for this term, so there is little to distract United from a strong first few months of the season.
Newcastle have home games against Bournemouth, Hull City, Aston Villa and Everton before the November international break, and will not be daunted by trips to Leeds United, Tottenham, Coventry and Palace. Not a walk in the park, but far from a nightmare schedule.
Even facing Andoni Iraola's Reds in the first game of the season in front of a raucous St James' Park should hold no fears for Newcastle.
Both clubs could field new-look sides when they get their campaigns under way in front of the Sky TV cameras on Sunday, August 23, and while United should be confident of a good start to the season, what happens in the coming weeks and months will determine just how justified that belief will be.
As things stand, Newcastle are already weaker compared to the end of last season, and that was a squad which needed an overhaul. The top goalscorer, Anthony Gordon, has departed, while midfield general Sandro Tonali could soon follow him through the St James' Park exit door.
Alarm bells should not be ringing yet, even if some instantly panicked when Victor Munoz opted to join Liverpool over United. It is mid-June, there is still plenty of time to get deals done with another month before the squad return to pre-season training.
The World Cup will inevitably delay some deals, although it has not stopped transfers being concluded, which should work in Newcastle's advantage.
Newcastle are working on deals with the aim of backing Howe with new faces well before the squad meets for pre-season tests, before heading to Spain for a training camp at La Manga. How successful they are will go a long way to determine just how well United are able to cope with those opening games.
They cannot afford to get things wrong for a second summer in a row - but the rewards of transfer success could be instant, and set up an exciting campaign.
