Manager: Bobby Robson.
The hectic days of Kevin Keegan and challenging for the title must seem like an age ago now to Newcastle fans who can at least sleep easy that their side will avoid relegation trouble this season, but who are back to hoping for a cup of some type to end their astonishing barren run.
Both of the strikers recruited look to have been overpriced, but at least there are now options compared to last year when injuries to the first choice pairing of Carl Cort and Alan Shearer made scoring a problem.
Under pressure to contain his spending, Robson has passed up the chance to bring in several new faces in order to keep the exceptionally-gifted Kieron Dyer, but he does now need the 22-year-old to deliver consistently over the coming campaign.
In: Craig Bellamy (Coventry, £6.5m); Robbie Elliott (Bolton, free), Laurent Robert (Paris St Germain, £10m). Total £16.5m.
Out: Kevin Gallacher (released); Stephen Glass (Watford, free); Des Hamilton (Cardiff, free); Stuart Elliott (released), David McMahon (released); Garry Brady (Portsmouth, free), Daniel Cordone (released), Carl Serrant (retired). Total £0m. Net spend: £16.5m.
Rep of Ireland players: Shay Given and Andy O'Brien.
Last year: Prem: 11th, FAC:3rd.
This year: 12th.
Official website: nufc.co.uk Betting: 125-1
Team-by-team guide compiled by Emmet Malone
