We are top of the league! - Newcastle head into Premier League season joint top of injury table

It's probably escaped your attention because it's so insignificant but the Premier League returns this weekend.

Newcastle United get their 2024/25 campaign underway with a traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off against Southampton and St James' Park.

Despite Euro 2024 having taken place this summer, it still feels like an eternity that we've been without proper football, but soon the wait will be over.

Newcastle are heading into the new season slightly better off than how they left off the last campaign.

Newcastle are joined by four other teams at the top of the Premier League Injury Table

The Magpies have made a couple of first-team additions although we are still hoping for more before the transfer window closes. Eddie Howe does have a few players returning to full fitness who missed large chunks of last season, particularly Joe Willock who will feel like a new signing.

Crucially though there are fewer injuries to worry about, although there are still some big players missing which puts the Magpies joint top of the Injury table heading into the new campaign.

Give Me Sport have published the table which shows Newcastle joined by Manchester United, Brighton and Bournemouth with five players missing.

Sandro Tonali's absence puts us clear at the top

Those players are, of course, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles who will be missing until the end of the year, Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson and Matt Targett.

Just to tip the scale slightly, Newcastle will also be missing Sandro Tonali until the clash with Tottenham on 1st September as he serves the end of his 10-month ban.

It's not the league we want to be top of, but here we are.