Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United’s unbeaten start under Matthias Jaissle will face another serious examination on Monday night when the Magpies travel to Elland Road.
Five points from their opening three Premier League matches have given the new manager a solid platform, but the trip to Leeds represents another important test of how quickly his ideas are taking hold.
Newcastle have already shown plenty of character this season. They fought back to draw 2-2 with Liverpool, produced an impressive 2-0 victory away at Tottenham and then recovered from two goals down to earn another 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.
Even Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup trip to Millwall eventually produced another positive result, with Joe Willock scoring late to maintain Jaissle’s unbeaten record.
However, Leeds are expected to provide a completely different challenge.
Daniel Farke’s side have shown that they can play with intensity and punish opponents who allow them to settle. Their dramatic 6-3 defeat at Chelsea in midweek demonstrated both their attacking threat and their defensive vulnerabilities after they had taken a 2-0 lead.
Newcastle will also have to deal with a growing injury list, with Dan Burn, Joelinton, Amar Dedic, William Osula and Ewen Jaouen among those unavailable.
There is, however, another storyline developing around Jaissle that could prove just as important as what happens on the pitch.
The German manager has reportedly been making a major effort to establish a strong relationship with his players since arriving at St James’ Park.
According to Mark Douglas of The i Paper, Newcastle insiders have been particularly impressed by the way Jaissle has approached the dressing room.
That is significant considering the scale of change Newcastle have experienced.
The club went through a major summer rebuild, with eight new arrivals coming in while several important figures departed. Jaissle also inherited a squad that had been shaped over a number of years by his predecessor.
Rather than attempting to erase everything that came before him, Jaissle appears to have taken a different approach.
And this is where two important conversations reportedly come into the picture.
Jaissle has spoken with Eddie Howe and is understood to have acknowledged the quality of the work the former Newcastle boss left behind.
Howe played a huge role in transforming Newcastle, guiding the club back into the Champions League and helping end their long domestic trophy drought.
For a new manager to recognise that history rather than immediately attempting to distance himself from it has reportedly been viewed positively inside the club.
But Jaissle did not stop there.
He has also spoken with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
Speaking to the club’s record goalscorer gives the new boss an opportunity to understand something that cannot simply be learned from tactics boards or training sessions — what Newcastle United means to the supporters and the city.
Those conversations may not guarantee success, but they offer an insight into the mentality Jaissle is bringing to the job.
Rather than simply demanding that his players adapt to him, the 38-year-old appears determined to understand the people around him.
Insiders reportedly believe he has made a genuine effort to know his players individually, helping create trust inside a dressing room that has undergone significant changes.
That could become one of Jaissle’s biggest strengths.
Newcastle have already shown signs of responding positively when matches become difficult. Their comebacks against Liverpool and Bournemouth, followed by the late winner at Millwall, suggest there is already a willingness within the squad to keep fighting.
Now the next test arrives at Elland Road.
A victory over Leeds would not only keep Newcastle unbeaten but could provide another indication that Jaissle’s methods are beginning to take root.
And behind the scenes, the growing belief in his approach could prove just as important.
The summer brought uncertainty, major departures and a completely new era.
But if the latest reports are anything to go by, Newcastle may have found something even more valuable than a tactical system — a manager who understands that winning over the dressing room and respecting the club’s past could be the foundation for what comes next.
Monday night will provide another answer.
And Jaissle’s relationship with his players may be one of the biggest stories to watch.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim