Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe made it clear in pre-season he wasn't just looking for an improvement in terms of results this term.
The former AFC Bournemouth boss was also quick to point out that he was eager to see statistics within his squad get better season on season. Howe was referring to data such as possession, goal attempts and deliveries into the box as well as onfield coverage from his stars.
Individually, Newcastle players are becoming more visible on the Premier League's official stats centre which is powered by Oracle Cloud.
Here are some of the highlights of the season so far after six matches.
Nick Pope
Having already scooped the club sponsor's player of the month award Pope has been tipped to become England number 1 at the winter World Cup in Qatar. And the stats back that up for the former Burnley stopper who has quickly became a fan favourite.
Pope is not only the top English keeper with clean sheets (3) but he is top of stops with saves with 28 putting him at the top of the Prem's leaderboard. He has two more saves than Jordan Pickford and three more than one of his other England rivals Dean Henderson at Nottingham Forest.
The man many deem as his big rival in Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has 11 saves to his name but after the Gunners' flying start to the season he has been less busy between the posts than Pope. The 30-year-old is third in the table for high claims with Wolves' Jose Sa top and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez third.
Allan Saint-Maximin
It's still early days in the assist table with a host of players sitting on two apiece but Saint-Maximin is one of the many stars. Kevin De Bruyne of Man City is top with five while Roberto Firmino of Liverpool, Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal and Newcastle transfer target Jack Harrison has three.
Saint-Maximin could be further up the table had he not been hit with a hamstring injury but he has made a fine start. His two assists against champions City certainly bode well. As things stand the French winger is joint fifth with 21 other players.
Joelinton
The Brazilian continues to impress in midfield and has been a mainstay in Eddie Howe's team. But his presence is more than justified and the midfield enforcer is proving his worth alongside the best stars in the division.
Joelinton is 11th in the table for tackles with 17 to his name. That's just one behind Declan Rice in the top 10.
The man to watch in this department? That's Joao Palinha who is top of the pile with 30 tackles and has proved a shrewd £18million summer signing for Fulham from Sporting Lisbon.
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn
The Switzerland international has made a fantastic start to the season and proved his worth at both ends. His wonderful strike against Nottingham Forest got the season off with a bang at the Leazes End.
But defensively he has been rock solid and been part of three clean sheets in the top-flight for United. Most notably he is one of the best in the Premier League for clearances so far.
Schar is 10th in the league with 25 clearances to his name, one ahead of Dan Burn (11th) who has 24. Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen has been the busiest in this respect with 59 clearances in the bag so far.
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