Newcastle United may well have made an underwhelming start to the Premier League season - but there is still plenty of excitement lying in wait during the remainder of the campaign.
Eddie Howe’s side got their season underway with a 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa but the Magpies have emerged empty-handed from their home game against Liverpool and away days at Premier League champions Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
United will return to Premier League action next Saturday when they host Brentford at St James Park in their first game following the international break - but that game will be quickly followed by the Magpies long-awaited return to the Champions League as they travel to Serie A giants AC Milan.
Howe and his players will be able to count on the backing of an impressive support at home and in Europe this season - and there will be some familiar faces throwing their support beyond United from near and far over the course of the campaign.
1. Jimmy Nail (estimated net worth = £1million)
The 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' star is another long-standing fan of Newcastle United, having been born in the city in 1954. | Getty Images
2. Brian Blessed (estimated net worth = £500,000)
Despite growing up a Manchester United fan, the Yorkshire-born actor has a ‘soft spot’ for Newcastle United and can even recall the club’s FA Cup winning starting line-ups from 1951, 1952 and 1955. | Getty Images
3. Chris Eubank (estimated net worth = £500,000)
Eubank’s support for Newcastle may just be mythologized, however, he has claimed to be a Newcastle supporter and has attended functions at St James’s Park. | Getty Images
4. Lewis Ritson (estimated net worth = £1-5million)
Ritson emerged as one of the north east’s brightest boxing talents and often fights in black and white colours. | Getty Images