Newcastle United's schedule for the 2023/24 season could not have offered a much harder start but there is no reason to feel daunted for Eddie Howe's Magpies.
Despite tackling improving Aston Villa - guided into Europe last season by Unai Emery - the 5.30pm kick off on August 12 still offers the chance of a winning start in front of a full house. Of course, it then gets progressively more difficult with the game at the Etihad Stadium to face Pep Guardiola's treble winners Man City then another home encounter with Liverpool before August is done and dusted.
Playing City and the Reds at least gets two tricky fixtures dealt but the long trip to Brighton before the first international break will also be a test given the way Roberto De Zerbi had his team playing at home towards the end of last season. Later in September, Newcastle will get to experience what a Champions League week really feels like.
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In the middle of the month a home game against Brentford will be followed by the first Champions League game for the first time in 20 years. Although, for many, the acid test will be how Newcastle recover from it and how they shape up against West Ham later that week at the London Stadium.
United walloped a weary-looking West Ham 5-1 last season when they were bogged down with Europa Conference League commitments. But with both teams in Europe this could prove a bit of a leveller.
A glance at the fixture list sees two three-game weeks in September alone with the Carabao Cup third round also to squeeze in that month. There will be two three-game weeks in October and November too with progress in the Carabao Cup also possible meaning squad rotation will be vital.
December appears to be a relentless month with the final Champions League group game and no fewer than seven Premier League matches! As ever the hectic festive period offers little respite and the year 2023 will finish with three games in a week, away to Luton, home to Nottingham Forest then away to Liverpool.
The Premier League announced on fixture release day that there will be another mid-season player break across the weekends of 13-20 January. But early January also sees FA Cup third round day.
If Newcastle can stay in the Champions League or indeed end up parachuting into the Europa League in third spot in the group stage, they will have those midweek fixtures back in place for knockout action in February. But this is what Eddie Howe, his coaching staff have worked for and fought for throughout last season.
Players would always rather play matches than train and the travel element of it all will be exciting for stars. It's just under a year ago that Dan Burn, speaking after the friendly defeat against Benfica, said: "I think even in pre-season against Benfica going to the game on the team bus had that type of atmosphere. We had a police escort travelling to the stadium - it was weird!
"We could hear all the Benfica fans at the stadium it felt like a European night for us. When I was a kid I watched Newcastle in the Champions League."
Given the approach and attitude of the current crop of players, there is every chance they embrace the coming season for exactly what it is - an adventure. That's certainly how the supporters will be viewing it and while it will be tough for Newcastle, there's no reason with a good summer in the transfer window behind them why they can't enjoy a similar run in Europe to 2002/03 when Sir Bobby Robson's team made it into the second phase.
The Magpies finish their campaign away to Brentford on the final day on May 19. By which time you'd like to hope that United fans are tired but happy.
