It's now just one day until Newcastle United kick start the 2022/23 Premier League campaign against newly promoted Nottingham Forest. The Magpies will welcome Steve Cooper's side to St. James' Park on Saturday, looking to continue their rich vein of form from last season.
Forest will be no pushovers having already proven they can mix it with the Premier Division's best in the FA Cup last season. They've signed 12 new players to date including former Newcastle target Jesse Lingard.
However, Steve Cooper's side have history on their side and Howe will be looking to to write his own this weekend. Newcastle have one of the worst opening day records from the 92 clubs in England's professional game according to a study, conducted by BonusCodeBets.
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The Toon have picked up just seven points from their previous ten opening games of the season. Newcastle have won two, drawn one and lost seven of the last curtain raisers - dating back to the 2012/13 campaign.
Only Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Carlisle United, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers have worse records than the Magpies. Newcastle's last win on the opening day of the season came in the 2020/21 campaign when Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick were on hand to give Steve Bruce's side a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
Nonetheless, there's plenty of hope on Tyneside ahead of the beginning of this campaign. Howe's side are hoping to upset the apple cart and force their way into the European places this season, having hit a purple patch since the start of 2022 and plenty of ambition on display from the new owners.
Cooper's Forest side are an unknown quantity and are among the favourites to go down this season, despite the influx of players at the City Ground.
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