Newcastle United stars are back for pre-season and a number of Eddie Howe's senior group are facing a big couple of months where their futures are concerned. Gateshead will provide the Magpies with their first pre-season test this weekend before a clash with Scottish giants Rangers for Allan McGregor's testimonial next Tuesday.
The most important set of games come later this month, however, when Howe takes the bulk of his first-team and a select few youngsters to the United States for the inaugural Premier League Summer Series tournament. Newcastle will take on Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton in three different states as the top flight stars are put through their paces.
Howe spoke in depth last summer about the importance of these pre-season trips and this time around will be no different. The Newcastle boss will be watching closely to see which stars are in his immediate plans and which may be heading for the door.
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One player who is facing a race against time to save his career on Tyneside is Jamal Lewis. The left-back has suffered with consistent injury setbacks as he fell further down the pecking order.
Lewis looked to have regained full fitness towards the back end of last season but was hit with a further blow when having to withdraw from Northern Ireland duty last month due to a knee issue. The 25-year-old, who still has two years to run on his St James' Park deal, has been given time to revive his career in the north east but is coming to a crossroads.
Lewis was back in training this week, along with fellow defender Kell Watts. The young centre-back, 23, spent last season on loan at Peterborough but was in Howe's plans before a knee injury derailed things.
Watts was involved in last summer's pre-season camp in Austria and will again attract interest from Championship and League One sides before the end of the window. The Alnwick-born defender has been put through his paces at the club's Benton HQ in recent days.
Another defender facing an uncertain future in the short-term is Harrison Ashby. Signed in January amid significant fanfare, the right-back hasn't kicked on since swapping east London for Tyneside.
Ashby has struggled with injuries as well but looked sharp as he returned to the training pitches at Darsley Park this week. With Emil Krafth still sidelined, there is a role for the 21-year-old as Kieran Trippier's backup if he manages to stay fit.
A section of the Magpies fanbase have called for a short-term loan deal for the ex-West Ham starlet to get minutes under his belt. The club's recent pursuit of Tino Livramento suggests Howe may have considered the same idea.
On the opposite flank there is a decision to be made over Matt Targett. The left-back has hardly put a foot wrong since joining Newcastle in Howe's first window but injury struggles, and Dan Burn's impressive form, saw the ex-Villa man drop down the pecking order in swift fashion.
Bringing in a new left-sided full-back is high on the agenda between now and September for Newcastle, which presents further questions marks over whether there is a place for Targett in the long run.
The former Southampton defender is back to full fitness and needs to remind Howe and Newcastle's fans of his talent when given the chance in the coming weeks.
