Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has spoken about the positive impact Steve Bruce and the Magpies' new signings have had on the club ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal.
The skipper has praised Bruce for having the players looking sharp in training, admitting he has enjoyed the head coach's approach to his opening month in the job.
He has also spoken about Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin, how they have settled in to life on Tyneside and praised the latter's ability to 'create something out of nothing'.
Here is a full transcript of what Lascelles told Sky Sports News yesterday.
Lascelles on pre-season and the impact of Steve Bruce
"It has been an interesting pre-season for us.
"Obviously, not having a manager to start off with but now the gaffer is in things have been going well.
"The boys are enjoying his training sessions and I think we have done pretty well in the games we have played so the boys are raring to go.
"The boys have really enjoyed it - I definitely have.
"We weren't sure how it was going to be but since he has come in he is a lively manager, the door is always open, he has banter with us but when we train we work hard.
"It has been really professional. We have been doing a lot of running and we are all really fit and we will be flying on Sunday.
"We are benefiting from it. We are sharp in training, it has been really intense. Every game we have played we have always had more work rate and intensity than the other team. With this team we definitely have a lot to offer in terms of work rate and this manager is getting that out of us.
"Hopefully, on Sunday we can use that to our advantage."
Lascelles on whether his leadership as captain has been required more than ever this summer
"I thought I was going to have a real tough job on my hands.
"With Ben coming in as head of the academy I thought maybe the boys might not listen and some of them could sack it off.
"Maybe that could happen with other teams but in fairness to the boys, we remained professional, really respected Ben and we have all really respected the gaffer since he come in."
On fringe players having an opportunity to impress
"It is getting down to it where the team is starting to look a little bit more certain towards the game on Sunday.
"When the manager come in it was anyone's game. Everybody had the chance to impress. Loan players coming back, injured players, everybody has had the chance to impress.
"Whatever team the gaffer decides to go for will be the best team available on Sunday."
On how Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin have settled in
"Really well. The big man up front is a handful. He's powerful, he's fast, he's good with his feet and that is pretty much what you want from your number nine if he can grab a few goals.
"Allan is a real livewire. He come on the other day and was really sharp.
"He is (a character). He has settled in really well. Normally when players come into the club it takes them a good couple of weeks to settle down and relax but straight away he has made himself known.
"He is a good player. I think he has a lot to offer in terms of last season we scored our goals from working hard and getting teams on the counter attack."
"With Allan he can create something out of nothing. Allan in training and the game we played, he is creating chances where they shouldn't really happen.
"I think he is going to bring a lot to the team.
"I know as a defender if you are coming up against those three (Joelinton, Saint-Maximin, Almiron), that's not what you want.
"They are all fast, they are all physical, they have all got goals in them, they are hungry."
On this Sunday's clash with Arsenal
"They are a good side. You know what you can get from Arsenal. They play pretty football in behind and they have a lot of flair players.
"But they know they have to come to St James' Park and it is going to be difficult. They wouldn't have wanted this fixture and we have nothing to lose going into that game.
"Hopefully we can cause an upset and I definitely think we can."
