Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has admitted he may need time to adjust to the concept of a 12.45pm kick-off as the Magpies prepare to face AFC Bournemouth with the chance to go top of the table.
The Toon boss gets his first taste of a lunchtime appetiser in the Premier League and confessed he had not been involved in a game so early since his days as a youth player with Stuttgart. Jaissle may have to wait before somebody explains why English football fans always say: "Never back the early kick off," although Newcastle are deemed favourites to beat Marco Rose's Cherries.
Jaissle's plea to fans
After a swirling atmosphere in his first Premier League game at St James' Park against Liverpool, and a decent backdrop in front of 51,000 crowd in the Carabao Cup under the floodlights against West Brom, the German head coach will now be looking to keep up his unbeaten record against the South Coast club.
When asked about the approach, Jaissle said: "It will be the same idea, how we want to play football. This is independent of the opponent.
"We have a clear way, a clear identity, and I hope the atmosphere will be the same emotionally, the same energy, definitely, even though the kick-off is a bit earlier.
"I need to adapt to that, it was the last time when I played in the youth when it was that early!
"Jokes aside, it's something new for us. I really hope the fans and all the supporters are cheering for us in the same way, like against Liverpool and in the cup. I am pretty sure it will be like this."
Chance to go top
The Magpies have made a solid start to the campaign with four points on the board from games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. It means they go into the game against Bournemouth with the chance to go top of the table - or at least for a few hours before the rest of the division plays catch up.
But what is the expectation from the Toon boss this term, he replied: "We are realistic and I don't set goals in the media.
"We are clear we have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.
"After last season with 12th place we know about the transition phase.
"We are really realistic, we know what we can do but we know about what challenges we face as well."
