Jacob Murphy IN, Fabian Schar OUT? Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce's 25-man Premier League squad dilemma

Last summer the boss had to leave out the likes of Jack Colback, Rolando Aarons and Henri Saivet at the last minute, as a late summer signing splurge saw the Magpies, just in time, strengthen key areas.

This time around, though, it’s a little different for Bruce at St James’s Park.

The Magpies have already done the majority of their business this summer – and they did it early by their standards, adding three free transfers – Mark Gillespie, Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser – and two further signings totalling £35 million – Callum Wilson and Jamal Lewis.

As a result, Bruce’s first-team pool is overstocked. The fat needs trimmed from the edges, with a decision required on the 25 players who will be in, and those who will miss out, coming shortly after the closure of the summer transfer window on October 5.

Twenty two players look all but assured of their place in the squad: Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow, Mark Gillespie, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth, Jamal Lewis, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Jeff Hendrick, Sean Longstaff, Ryan Fraser, Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin, Matt Ritchie, Callum Wilson, Andy Carroll and Joelinton.

But what about the futures of the other EIGHT, whose futures, at this stage, remain up in the air? Here are their relative merits explored with some looking a little safer than others...