Bruno Guimaraes took the headlines as usual, Callum Wilson picked up where he left off in front of goal and the backline was as sturdy as could be during Newcastle United's Premier League opener with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
But the performance of Allan Saint-Maximin also deserves high praise as the Frenchman showed an early glimpse that he may just be ready to explode this season. Eddie Howe has made no secret of his desire to improve the former Nice man amid rumours he could depart for the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham.
His future immediate looks to be on Tyneside and the player looks both settled and raring to go after a pre-season packed with off-the-pitch fitness training and one-to-one nurturing on it.
