Familiar faces are a welcome sight in the Algarve
As Newcastle United arrived at Faro Airport this lunchtime amidst temperatures of 27 degrees in the Algarve perhaps one of the most positive signs is actually who is on board the Magpies' tour of Europe.
Of course, re-inforcements are still needed in the eyes of many, with a right-back, a centre-back and a striker still required ahead of a tough season and possibly long campaign.
But for Alan Pardew, it is a fair bet he'd have snapped your hand off if you offered him the chance to have all of his squad in tact by September 1.
This summer's window is certainly a two tier game as far as the manager is concerned.
Keeping Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse would be a statement in itself.
If sources close to the club are right when they say that Mike Ashley is buidling for the future then the above list of stars is an excellent platform to move forward.
The season may well be three weeks away and that is a concern for some fans.
Yet as far as the window is concerned there is still over a month to go.
Many clubs are playing a canny cautious game.
Indeed, in the transfer window, for every action there seems to be a reaction.
Clubs will get desperate and you have to say while the Toon board haven't always been popular with Geordie fans they have been known to pull a few rabbits out of the hat in Cisse and Cabaye at least.
But as the Toon stars were counted off the plane by fans waiting at Faro AIrport today, many will hope they are heading out of the tunnel at St James' Park in similar fashion come September.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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