The Magpies welcome the Saints to St. James' Park (kick-off 3pm BST) looking for a win to set the tone for what Howe and his side hope will be a successful campaign.

And the United head coach hopes his charges will put in a performance fitting of the 2024/25 curtain-raiser in what he anticipates will be a "very complex" game against Russell Martin's men, who won promotion in the Championship play-off final at the end of last term.

He spoke to reporters at the Newcastle United Media Centre on Friday morning. Here are some of the main topics that were up for discussion:

On the prospect of a new season starting and the excitement that comes with it…

"There is always a great feeling before the start of the season. (There is) so much unknown. We've had a good pre-season, we are in good shape. The lads have worked really well. It's been an intense period, as it always is.

"Your preference is always the first game to be at home. We know the supporters will be with us, we know how important they will be to us. We have to do our bit."

On newly-promoted Southampton…

"Russell has done a great job, I always admired his style of play, from Swansea to Southampton. He is very clever tactically and astute. All those things add to a very complex game for us.

"They are slightly different, and we need to be ready for that challenge. We have to deliver a really strong performance."

On forward Callum Wilson's fitness…

"Callum will miss the first few games of the season.

"He's making really good progress. He really feels good and wants to push a bit faster, but we're just trying to manage him."

On Sandro Tonali's return to action later this month…

"He is a very cool customer, he is very contained emotionally, he is very strong. He has handled himself really well in this period. I am sure he has had some hard days.

"He has trained really well and has been a great teammate. I know how focused and excited he is for his return.

"Again, another huge thing for me to say is thank you to the Newcastle United fans - the way they've looked after him and for how they've dealt with him socially. I think it's been an incredible response and that will only help him when he returns."

On Alexander Isak, and whether he has the potential top the Premier League's goalscoring charts this term…

"He has got the talent and ability to be, but he's going to be competing against all the elite strikers in the league. It is our job to supply him, to give him as many chances as possible.

"There is an expectation on him to do some of the stuff that won't get talked about here - leading the line and starting our out-of-possession game plan and delivering that to the highest level. We do need him to contribute, of course, with his goals, his assists and his creative play."

On his hopes for the season ahead…

"We have evolved the squad - that is not always necessarily in terms of personnel. We're trying to do that all the time. We're trying to add layers to our game. We're trying to improve. I think we have done that in pre-season.

"Obviously, the proof will be in what we deliver going into the season. I think the players we have here and the squad we have is in a good place and ready to play."