It's a new dawn at Newcastle United. A new owner and a new head coach has the fans full of optimism that a change in fortune is afoot; Eddie Howe's first objective at the helm is securing the club's first win of the season against an out-of-form Brentford.
Newcastle face The Bees at an ideal time. Thomas Frank's side have been plagued with injuries in recent weeks and are on the club's longest losing streak since the end of 2016. It's worth noting that Brentford haven't lost five on the bounce since February-March 2016.
Defeats away to Burnley and at home to Norwich City handed those sides their first wins of the season; Newcastle will be hopeful they'll also receive the same gift from the newly-promoted team.
The Magpies can consider themselves unfortunate that they're without a win to date. Robert Sanchez's intentional trip on Callum Wilson in stoppage time denied him a clear scoring opportunity against Brighton & Hove Albion and ultimately the three points before the international break.
In order to attain that elusive first win of the campaign, the hosts will need to tighten their defence as they have the worst defensive record at home this season, conceding 13 goals in five games.
Ivan Toney is a man that knows where the back of the net is and, despite scoring one goal in open play since his strike versus Aston Villa in September, he will be looking forward to the idea of taking advantage of his former club's defensive frailties.
Saturday's fixture will mean Howe will have faced Brentford in all four of England's professional divisions. He has faced them six times: won two, drew two, and lost two. His last meeting with the Bees ended in a 3-1 defeat at Griffin Park in February 2015.
Team news
Howe has near-enough a full squad at his disposal this weekend. Everyone on international duty has returned to training in time except Miguel Almirón; Paul Dummett is the only absentee.
Brentford are without a few key names. David Raya and Josh Dasilva remain long-term absentees while Kristoffer Ajer (hamstring, Yoane Wissa (ankle) and Mathias Jørgensen (muscle) are doubts.
Mads Bech Sørensen and Julian Jeanvier have returned to team training and Shandon Baptiste is in contention after featuring for 60 minutes in a behind closed doors friendly against Luton Town during the international break.
Predicted lineups
Newcastle United: Darlow; Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie; Fraser, Hayden, Longstaff, Saint-Maximin; Wilson, Joelinton.
Brentford: Fernández; Jansson, Nørgaard, Pinnock; Canós, Onyeka, Janelt, Ghoddos, Henry; Mbeumo, Toney.
Ones to watch
Previous meetings
This will be the first-ever top-flight meeting between Newcastle and Brentford. The Bees haven't won at St. James' Park since December 1934 and there has never been a competitive draw between the two clubs.
The previous meeting between the two proved to be a historic one for Brentford. Dasilva's controlled half-volleyed strike in the 66th-minute was enough to send the club into the first major cup semi-final in its history.
How to watch
This fixture will take place on Saturday 20 November at 15:00 GMT and will not be broadcasted in the United Kingdom.
What the managers have said
"I'd like to think you'll see a team playing in the way I want them to and in a way befitting of what the supporters want to see. I like to think you'll see a team playing for the supporters, the badge & doing the city proud.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm under no illusions about our current situation and what we need to do. Tomorrow is a massive day for the football club and the atmosphere will be a brilliant thing for us all to experience."
Frank, meanwhile, admits his team have taken an alternate approach to facing Newcastle by analysing AFC Bournemouth under Howe's tutelage.
"We haven’t looked that much at Newcastle, apart from individual players, but rather what Eddie Howe did at Bournemouth in terms of shape and style. I expect them to come flying out, pressing us.
Frank also confessed his admiration for the 43-year-old and his 'progressive football'.
"His profile is fantastic and stands for progressive football, front-footed pressing, and he wants to be dominant on the ball. I admired his job at Bournemouth a lot. I’m convinced that, over time, he will be a success at Newcastle."