A Premier League baptism of fire awaits Southampton on Saturday afternoon, as Russell Martin's men make the 650-mile round trip to take on Newcastle United on the opening weekend.
While the Saints' 2023-24 season ended in unbridled joy at Wembley, their hosts were left to mourn their dreams of a second straight season in European football.
Match preview
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The St James' Park faithful could have been forgiven for donning Manchester City scarves at Wembley during the 2024 FA Cup final, where a win for the reigning Premier League champions over Manchester United would have sent the Magpies to the Europa Conference League.
However, on account of Erik ten Hag's men - who finished eighth in the Premier League, one spot below Newcastle - stunning the Citizens in the showpiece event, the Red Devils sealed a Europa League spot, Chelsea dropped down to the Conference League, and Eddie Howe's men were left without any form of continental competition.
Despite holding their own in last year's Champions League Group of Death, the Magpies' return to the continent ended at the first hurdle, and while they were always hovering around the European spots in the Premier League table, seventh did not suffice this time around.
Off-the-pitch happenings have also threatened to disrupt Newcastle's preparations, from the departure of director Amanda Staveley to Howe's links with the England job, but the Magpies soared in pre-season with five victories from a possible six, the outlier being a 2-0 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos.
Furthermore, Howe's crop found the back of the net in each of their 19 Premier League home games last season, while also navigating their last eight unbeaten, a solid sequence which produced a terrific 24 goals at a rate of three per game.
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While some Magpies fans may not have been best pleased by results at Wembley a few months ago, Southampton rejoiced in winning the most lucrative game in football under the arch, fulfilling their promotion dreams at the expense of a heartbroken Leeds United.
Both bidding to jump back into the big time at the first attempt, joining Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the top division, the Whites and the Saints were separated by Adam Armstrong's 24th goal of the season - appropriately scored in the 24th minute - as Russell Martin earned his Premier League stars.
Ahead of their swift return to top-flight territory, Southampton have tested their mettle against a host of international opposition in pre-season, beating the likes of Bordeaux and Montpellier HSC while holding Lazio and Getafe to draws in their final fixtures at St Mary's.
New faces in the double figures - and one old flame in Adam Lallana - have arrived on the South Coast for the Saints' latest Premier League adventure, but their 8% win rate on the opening weekend is the worst of all teams to have played in at least 10 Premier League fixtures.
Indeed, the Saints have only prevailed in two of their previous 24 gameweek one scraps in the top flight, and they have suffered five straight losses to Newcastle in all competitions heading into Saturday's reunion, most recently a 3-1 St James' Park defeat in April 2023.
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Team News
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The injury curse engulfing St James' Park has not been lifted over the summer, as Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (ankle) and Matt Targett (calf) are all still on the mend; the former two should not be back until January.
Key defensive cog Fabian Schar also appeared to twist his ankle in Newcastle's final pre-season win over Brest, but there is optimism that he will be fit, while the Magpies also confirmed on Thursday that Sandro Tonali will be available for selection again on August 28 following his lengthy betting ban.
While Newcastle's transfers in have been relatively modest - William Osula, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Lewis Hall and Lloyd Kelly - the Magpies have successfully fended off interest in Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes, both of whom will feature from the off here.
As for Southampton, Martin must cope without goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu for a number of months due to his Achilles rupture, so 34-year-old Alex McCarthy should guard the posts despite competition from Joe Lumley and Mateusz Lis.
Attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana is also nursing an ankle problem sustained in the friendly loss to Oxford United at the end of July, which spells good news for summer signing Ben Brereton Diaz, who ought to be given the nod with Armstrong up top.
Lallana and Ross Stewart are also on the verge of Saints comebacks, while Cameron Archer could make his debut for the club after his switch from Aston Villa was confirmed on Friday.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Downes, Smallbone, Aribo; Armstrong, Brereton Diaz
We say: Newcastle United 3-1 Southampton
Despite failing to finish in the top three spots of the Championship table, Southampton led the division in terms of average possession and passes last season, as well as ranking second for shots per game and expected goals per game.
Such praiseworthy statistics means that the travelling army should have something to cheer, but it may only be the odd consolation goal, as home specialists Newcastle will surely prove too potent in the final third.
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