No starting Premier League debuts for Newcastle - Our predicted XI to face Southampton

Newcastle United face Southampton on Saturday at 3pm as the curtain lifts on a brand new Premier League season.

Pundits aplenty have backed Newcastle to start strong against the newly promoted Saints and we'd expect a nice home win to get us off the mark too.

The big question is, how will Eddie Howe line up his Mags for this one? Newcastle still have a few injuries so Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, Lewis Miley and Callum Wilson are out and Sandro Tonali is still serving his 10-month ban.

Eddie Howe still has a decent squad to pick from which includes new additions Lloyd Kelly,Will Osula and Odysseas Vlachodimos, but we don't have a place for them in tomorrow's starting XI.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - Back to full fitness Pope will be the man to guard the goal this season as long as he's fit.

Defence

Tino Livramento - It's time for Tino to take the reins from Kieran Trippier as starting right-back and we think Howe knows that too.

Fabian Schar - You just can't keep him down. He may have been injured last week but that won't stop him.

Dan Burn - I'd gone with Lloyd Kelly originally, but the guys in the office talked me out of it based on Howe's weird blind faith in Burn, and they had a point.

Lewis Hall - Matt Targett is back in training but after his performances at the end of last season and in pre-season, why would Howe not play Hall?

Midfield

Sean Longstaff - My gut pick here was Joe Willock but after Howe said in this morning's presser that he's not 100% I think Longy might get the nod initially.

Bruno Guimaraes - Who else would it be?

Joelinton - Man, it's just good to be writing his name in a lineup prediction knowing that it's almost guaranteed. No niggly injury to worry about.

Forwards

Jacob Murphy - Smiley McGhee has been on fire in pre-season and will keep out the other smiley winger for as long as he continues to play well.

Alexander Isak - That Golden Boot is calling him this season, so he might as well get off to a good start against Southampton. Get that elusive hat trick, Alex!

Anthony Gordon - Returned late to training so will not be 100% but will still have more than enough for Southampton, he has to start.

We will probably see Willock and Kelly at some point through the game as substitutes and we expect a cameo for Will Osula too who definitely earned it after his debut in the Sela Cup last week.

There'll also be a spot on the bench for pre-season standout Trevan Sanusi, although whether he gets any minutes will likely depend on the scoreline late in the second half.