BBC Sport has looked at Newcastle United’s prospects for the coming season.

Your football statistician Chris Collinson makes fun of the date.

The man from BBC Sport looked at what happened in the 2023/24 season and then related it to what is needed this time.

So is he right in his conclusions…?

BBC Sport football statistician Chris Collinson takes a look at Newcastle United ahead of the new 2024/25 season – August 15, 2024:

“Look at the data – what will the season bring?

“Newcastle are aiming to get back into the Champions League this season… and while their attack from last season already deserves a top-four place, their defence needs to improve.

The Magpies scored 17 more goals than when they finished fourth in 2022/23, despite actually having 20 fewer shots on goal. While that proves how ruthless they were in front of goal, their xG shows they were still the best attack outside the top three in terms of chance creation.

However, they were significantly worse defensively, conceding 29 more goals and having to save 147 more shots on goal. A fit-again Nick Pope should help to improve that, but Eddie Howe will have to find the right balance if St James’ Park is to once again host teams like Paris St-Germain.’

My thoughts on the BBC sports statistician’s statements

It’s pretty amazing what Newcastle United achieved last season in terms of scoring goals.

United have had an unprecedented season in terms of injuries, the worst in the club’s history, and are by far the worst-hit club in the Premier League.

Going from 68 PL goals when finishing fourth in the 2022/23 season to 85 PL goals (105 in all competitions) last season (2023/24) is incredible. The most goals NUFC have ever scored in a PL season.

No Premier League club conceded fewer PL goals in the 2022/23 season than Newcastle with a total of 33.

Therefore, conceding 62 PL goals in the 2023/24 season, 29 more, sounds like a disaster.

Here, however, the injuries took their toll.

For me, Nick Pope is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Last season (2023/24) he conceded 16 goals in 15 PL starts, in the other 23 PL games in which he was not in the starting line-up NUFC conceded 46.

Newcastle United’s back four (Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn) started almost every game in the 2022/23 PL season, while last season Schar was the only one of the quartet not significantly affected by injury.

In addition, Joelinton also missed a large part of the season, despite playing a key role in protecting the back four. Sandro Tonali would also have been a great help in this regard. The big signing in the summer of 2023 was only in the starting eleven in a few PL games before his suspension.

The other important signing last summer was Harvey Barnes, who was limited to a few Premier League appearances due to a freak injury.

We saw 20-year-old Tino Livramento and 18-year-old Lewis Hall signed as long-term signings last summer and they were used sparingly while Eddie Howe coached them. Much more is certainly expected from both of them in the coming season. While Lloyd Kelly looks to be a great addition.

Injuries to Botman and Lascelles mean they won’t be able to play again until several months into the new season. However, BBC Sport’s statistician should perhaps have dug a little deeper, as there is far more cause for optimism next season when it comes to believing that Newcastle United will get significantly closer to their total of just 33 PL goals conceded from the 2022/23 season, while maintaining the excellent goalscoring quality of last season.