Eddie Howe has now had a good look at his options for the 2022/23 season and won't be disappointed with the shape of his Newcastle United squad so far.
Some stars simply walk into the team given their brilliance while others have stiff competition - and there are also some harsh calls too. But Howe has major decisions to make when play resumes in the Premier League.
Despite suffering a spate of key injuries, Newcastle have lost just one match in the campaign - a narrow defeat in stoppage time to Liverpool - and they have still picked up seven points regardless of a string of poor VAR calls. Howe made four senior summer signings in the transfer window and has tried to blend them into the team that finished 11th last term.
Howe probably still doesn't know exactly what his best XI is yet with a clutch of players still battling for guaranteed starting slots. But some of his big calls have already been justified.
Based on current performances this is arguably Newcastle's best side when everybody is available.
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Nick Pope
A very easy choice in truth and any doubts that it was the right call to replace Martin Dubravka have quickly faded away. Pope has been outstanding with three clean sheets so far and some big saves in the Premier League.
Dubravka's exit to Manchester United and Karl Darlow's injury means he is already the established number 1 on Tyneside. With Jordan Pickford also injured he could well be the main man at the World Cup as he pushes Aaron Ramsdale hard for the starting place in Qatar later this year.
Kieran Trippier
Another easy one, Trippier has shrugged off his injury woes in the second half and been a leading light in Howe's team. Always influential and always on the ball, Trippier's contributions have stacked up this season - with 401 touches so far this season, no Newcastle player has more than him.
A great example of his influence has to be away to Tranmere when Newcastle were losing their way in the League Cup and found themselves a goal down. Trippier stepped on to the field reorganised and had the team level via a goal from one of his set-pieces before setting up Chris Wood for the winner. His free-kick against Man City was also top notch but it is his defensive capabilities that stand out most.
Fabian Schar
Given Newcastle's centre-back department offers plenty of competition these days, Schar has made no fuss about claiming a regular place. It took Schar's wonder goal to get the season officially start when things were looking flat against Nottingham Forest.
Since then he has worked brilliantly with whoever has partnered him in the middle. Schar will be 31 later this year and is very much one of the elder statesmen in the dressing room.
He is brilliant in the air and calm under pressure meaning the right-sided defensive slot is his to lose. Club captain Jamaal Lascelles must find the best form of his Newcastle career to wrestle the position from him.
Sven Botman
The left-sided defensive slot is the hardest call of selecting Newcastle's best XI of the season so far. Botman did not start the campaign with Dan Burn preferred in the middle.
Burn justified that selection but was then shunted to left-back for a spell due to Matt Targett's injury woe. This gave Botman the chance to impress and he hasn't done bad at all.
He is an imposing figure in the heart of defence and is learning about the Premier League game by game. Howe could easily name Botman or Burn in this position but the Dutchman is marginally ahead in my mind - as good as the Blyth-born defender has been since arriving from January.
Matt Targett
United fans quickly knew that Targett was an upgrade in the left-back slot when he signed on loan from Aston Villa. It was no surprise that the owners were keen to make the deal permanent.
Targett has suffered with a hamstring injury so far this season but is still very much the clear choice at left-back these days. The bigger debate is who would replace him when injured.
Given that Burn got the call ahead of three players who can play at left-back in Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie and Javier Manquillo, Howe is sending a message about the required standard in his line-ups these days.
Joelinton
When the season started in earnest fans wondered whether we'd see Joelinton switch back to a more attacking role in the team. But Howe has stuck with him as one of the mainstays in his engine room.
The Brazilian is in the top 11 of all the Premier League players when it comes to successful tackles with 17 so far. With Jonjo Shelvey injured and Bruno Guimaraes struggling with a muscle injury, he has stepped things up int the middle of the park.
Bruno Guimaraes
An automatic choice in the eyes of the manager and the fans. Bruno is a player of Champions League quality and it was no surprise when he was linked with Real Madrid in the window.
Bruno is capable of dropping back to anchor man or pushing on as an attacking force. Whatever he does has an impact and he was even spotted celebrating a tackle recently!
Shelvey's injury forced him a little deeper but he is going to play regardless of who is fit and available.
Elliot Anderson
The youngster has only played 32 minutes in the Premier League this season but in that time he has shown that he can handle the big stage and also make things happen in and around the final third.
The Whitley Bay youngster then put in a strong display in the League Cup win at Tranmere Rovers. Excellent cameos against Wolves and Crystal Palace followed and he is pushing to gain a start ahead of more senior figures like Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff.
As Sir Matt Busby once said: "If you're good enough, you're old enough"
Allan Saint-Maximin
The left-winger was in sparkling form before picking up a hamstring injury after sprinting back on a defensive recovery run at Wolves. Thankfully he stayed on the field and cracked home a volley that won goal of the month to earn a 1-1 draw.
Saint-Maximin raised his game to a premium level against Manchester City in a 3-3 draw when he made two assists and won a free-kick which Trippier whipped home as Newcastle held the champions. Saint-Maximin missed the trip to Liverpool and the stalemate against Crystal Palace and both results might have been different had he played.
Callum Wilson
When he's fit he starts, and when he starts he will get goals if you provide the service for him. Or at least that's what 22 goals in 42 starts in the Premier League should tell you after Wilson's consistent ratio at United.
Howe has already stated he will look to play Wilson and Aleksander Isak together - something that would require a slight tweak in formation given both are out-and-out strikers and have never really been used as wider attacking forces in their career.
If Howe can get that chemistry right though it could be devastating.
Aleksander Isak
When you've agreed a £63million deal for a striker it's a sure thing that you're going to use him every week. Howe has already spoken about improving the service levels for the star from Real Sociedad.
He got off to a flying start with a strike against Liverpool at Anfield and should have had another. After going clean through against Palace he opted for the deft chip over the keeper but there is a suggestion more goals are on the way.
Whatever way you look at it, most fans would start him and build the team around him - something Howe will already be thinking about as Wilson edges back to fitness.
Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron have had their moments in attack but do either get the nod when Wilson, Isak and Saint-Maximin are all fit?
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