Two games, two wins, two clean sheets – things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Steve Bruce and his Magpies side so far as they prepare to welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to St James’s Park this afternoon (2pm kick-off).
But Newcastle are yet to beat the Seagulls since they both won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 – the previous two meetings between the sides last season ended as goalless draws.
Bruce has a couple of selection dilemmas ahead of today’s match with Miguel Almiron and Ryan Fraser pushing to start after impressive Carabao Cup displays.
Meanwhile, Allan Saint-Maximin is still likely to start despite taking a knock late on against Blackburn Rovers in midweek.
Scroll down and click through the pages to see our predicted Magpies starting line-up for the match...
1. Goalkeeper: Karl Darlow
Karl Darlow is set to return to the starting XI this Sunday as the Magpies look to start the season with a third consecutive clean sheet. New boy Mark Gillespie impressed in between the sticks on his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Blackburn Rovers in midweek but we're going with Darlow to get to the nod. Photo: Catherine Ivill
2. Right-back: Javier Manquillo
The Spaniard is making the right-back position his own at the club and is firmly becoming first choice ahead of Emil Krafth and DeAndre Yedlin. Photo: Catherine Ivill
3. Centre-back: Jamaal Lascelles
The United captain will be looking to start the campaign with back to back Premier League clean sheets for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Photo: MICHAEL REGAN
4. Centre-back: Federico Fernandez
The Argentine has started each of the last 30 top flight matches under Steve Bruce. There's no reason to suggest why that would change this afternoon. Photo: MICHAEL REGAN