Newcastle United PREDICTED XI vs Southampton

Steve McClaren's first Barclays Premier League campaign as Newcastle United boss is set to get underway on Sunday as the Magpies host Southampton at St James' Park (1.30pm kick-off). The former Derby County boss will be desperate to start his tenure with a win and inject a large dose of optimism into 52,000 hopeful Geordies who will be packed into the famous old stadium. Last season could not have been worse. Mike Ashley and John Carver sucked all of the life out of the club and a last-minute relegation battle proved to be the only source of tainted excitement for fans to even bother acknowledging. This summer has slowly brought the city back to life. Mike Ashley's name followed by an expletive sentence involving the word "ambition" is slowly being drained out with talk of tactics, Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic and how old Chancel Mbemba is? The football has rightfully taken the lead again and the politics of the club - although likely to rear there ugly head once again in the near future - have refreshingly been escorted out of the city in Carver's car. Newcastle are yet to sell anyone and have brought in three high-quality players that have largely improved the side. McClaren has some big decisions to make and his Newcastle starting XI no longer picks itself. There is now strong competition (mainly for the attacking places) among the first team - although, admittedly, not so in defence - and the Magpies squad should maintain a healthy battle when competing for a starting place this season. Here at WhatCulture.com/NUFC we predict Newcastle United's starting XI for this weekend's opening Premier League fixture - and we have selected Steve McClaren's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation...