Eddie Howe has a warning for Newcastle United's players

However, the club, which faces newly-promoted Nottingham Forest at a sold-out St James’s Park on Saturday, seemingly has a great opportunity to get a win at the first attempt this season.

Howe, though, is wary of Steve Cooper’s side, which won promotion via the play-offs last season. United’s head coach believes Forest will have “momentum” with them – just as his Bournemouth did when they won promotion to the Premier League in 2015.

"It’s a difficult game,” said Howe, who is still looking to strengthen his squad. "A newly-promoted team is difficult – home or away. I've been that newly promoted team, and the energy and the positivity you get from the feeling of promotion is always there.

"A club the size of Nottingham Forest are going to have a lot of that momentum with them. So I think it's a very difficult one, but, certainly, one we think we can win if we get all things going in the right direction. There’s no easy game in the Premier League as we all know."

The Forest game is followed by fixtures against Brighton, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool.

And a “good start” is all-important to Howe, who took over last November when the club was 19th in the Premier League with five points.

"After that, the fixtures are tough, but that’s the Premier League,” said Howe. "A good start is important for us. We didn't have that last year, and we’re certainly looking to improve that this time."