It could be as long as after the next international break before Newcastle United can see where they really are in the Premier League.
Newcastle United have had a slow start to the Premier League season, but that is completely understandable.
Rafa Benitez has been forced to set up his side to face Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City in three of his first four games, narrowly losing all three 2-1.
The other game, a 0-0 draw away at Cardiff City, should have been settled in stoppage time, only for Kenedy to miss his penalty and leave Newcastle with just one point from 12.
Looking at the fixture list, that might not change too much over the next four weeks, and it could be as long as after the next international break before Newcastle can really get going.
The Magpies will play two more of last season’s top six over the four games before the national teams get together – first hosting Arsenal and then travelling to face Manchester United on 6 October.
The two games in between – Crystal Palace away and Leicester City at home – offer some respite but neither are games Benitez will realistically expect to win.
Six games follow United before a trip to Everton in December: Brighton (h), Southampton (a), Watford (h), Bournemouth (h), Burnley (a), and West Ham United (h).
While Newcastle certainly will not be expecting 18 points from that, all six are matches that they would be disappointed not to win, and it will be the first time this season the Magpies can get some genuine momentum going – and they could get a lot of it.
It will take some patience but we will finally get to see what Benitez and Newcastle can do in six weeks.
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