Boss Rafa Benítez had shuffled his pack over the summer, and – aided by the arrivals of the likes of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie – the Magpies enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season.
Ciaran Clark and Mohamed Diamé – two players who would rack up more than 70 appearances between them in the months that followed – also arrived as August began, but Newcastle struggled to find their mojo at first.
Within a matter of weeks, though, United had made their intentions clear.
Friday, 5th August
Fulham 1 Newcastle United 0
Of those who saw off Tottenham Hotspur in the Magpies’ final game in the Premier League, only three players – Jack Colback, Paul Dummett and Daryl Janmaat – started at Craven Cottage.
The visitors were controversially denied a penalty before Matt Smith headed Fulham in front just before the break.
Goalkeeper David Button twice denied Ritchie in the second half, while left-back Scott Malone came close to doubling the Cottagers’ advantage.
1-0 was how it finished, though, as Newcastle’s long wait for an away win – at any level – continued.
Saturday, 13th August
Newcastle United 1 Huddersfield Town 2
On a balmy afternoon on Tyneside, United looked to get their Championship campaign up and running in front of a capacity crowd at St. James’ Park, with the first Gallowgate Flags display providing a magnificent backdrop.
It was not to be, though, as Huddersfield – setting the tone for an impressive season of their own – snatched a late victory through midfielder Jack Payne.
Earlier, frontman Gayle had notched his first goal for Newcastle, cancelling out Nakhi Wells’ opener for the Terriers.
Wednesday, 17th August
Newcastle United 4 Reading 1
At the third attempt, the Magpies got their first points on the board – and in emphatic fashion, too.
Isaac Hayden – a summer arrival from Arsenal – opened the scoring 20 minutes in, before Reading’s Gareth McCleary levelled from the spot.
Newcastle upped the ante after the break, however. Ritchie slotted home a penalty to restore their lead, before Gayle’s brace – the first a free-kick from 30 yards – made sure of a much-needed win.
Saturday, 20th August
Bristol City 0 Newcastle United 1
Grinding out points on the road was to become a fixture of Newcastle’s season, and – with Ashton Gate full to the brim – Benitez’s charges dug deep to leapfrog the Robins in the table.
United led early on through in-form Gayle, who latched onto Diame’s ball before producing a classy finish.
Bristol City enjoyed plenty of possession after the interval, but failed to find a way past a resolute Magpies backline.
Tuesday, 23rd August
Newcastle United 2 Cheltenham Town 0
Taking to the pitch for the third time in six days, Newcastle eased past League Two side Cheltenham in the Second Round of the EFL Cup.
After a fragmented start to the game, Ayoze Perez picked out the far corner just before the break.
And the Spaniard struck again two minutes into the second half, converting Gayle’s square after a mistake in the visitors’ defence.
Saturday, 27th August
Newcastle United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
With momentum starting to build, United turned in a fine performance to see off the side who would later emerge as their main rival for the Championship crown.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles headed home Ritchie’s free-kick 15 minutes in, before Jonjo Shelvey opened his account for the season just after the hour-mark with a superb free-kick.
Victory moved the Magpies up to fourth in the table – behind Huddersfield, Fulham and surprise package Barnsley - as the season began to take shape.
