Newcastle United full-back Paul Dummett is hoping that his team can start the new season in better form than they did the last campaign.
The Magpies failed to win in their first ten games - losing seven - before scraping a 1-0 win against Watford in their 11th outing.
Dummett, who suffered a stop-start season thanks to injury, is keeping his fingers crossed that his side can get a few more wins during the opening run this time around.
Speaking before United's opening day fixture against Arsenal was confirmed, the Welsh international said: "Last season we had a really tough start so we'll be hoping this season that we don't start off the same way.
"Every game's going to be hard and it's never going to be an easy start no matter who we play, but we just need to aim not to start like we did last season.
"We recovered well after Christmas with the games we won, but we want to try to get this season off to a positive start, and hopefully we can get a couple of wins under our belts early doors."
The fixture release comes as confusion over Rafa Benitez's future as manager continues - the Spaniard still yet to sign a new deal with his current contract running out on June 30th.
Dummett, who has enjoyed a holiday in Las Vegas, is looking forward to finding out who United will take on first.
"I think everyone looks out for the fixtures," he told NUFC.co.uk.
"You want to know who your first game of the season is against - I think that's the first one you look out for.
"You have that break and then you come back for pre-season excited and ready for the first game of the season, so you always look out for that first game.
"Hopefully it's a home game, in front of our fans, and we can get off to a good start."
