Newcastle shine thanks to the aptly named goalscorer and phenomenal Bruno Guimaraes

Nottingham Forest struggled to cope with Newcastle, who shared the burden instead of an attacking signing. Eddie Howe did wonders there.

On reflection, Eddie Howe absolutely looks like the kind of Football Manager player who would profit from potentially the most lucrative takeover in the history of the sport by signing Nick Pope, making Matt Targett's loan permanent and bringing a £30million centre-half who starts the season on the bench.

It's not a slight intention. It was to his coaching credit that Howe resisted temptation and ventured into this brave new world of a first full campaign as Newcastle boss with just four of his own signings in the starting XI. to welcome the promoted Nottingham Forest.

It sums up their current situation that three of those players were a goalkeeper and two defenders, the other being a box-to-box midfielder.

And it captures the mood that Newcastle put aside any simmering frustration of the transfer window with a surprisingly straightforward win, without a shiny new striker.

Howe was a paragon of patience when it came to forward thinking. January's interest in Hugo Ekitike was renewed ahead of this campaign, but when the move fell apart the Newcastle manager spoke only of a need for 'realignment'.

This message was echoed when Jack Harrison and Moussa Diaby became publicly inaccessible, even for Newcastle's blank checkbook. "You have to be adaptable," said Howe, practicing what he preached against Forest with an attack that belied unthinkable riches.

Allan Saint-Maximin delighted and staggered in about equal parts. Callum Wilson harassed and fought his way to another opening day goal. Miguel Almiron was a perfect fit, though he was always guilty of taking a touch too many.

With the unfairly brilliant Bruno Guimaraes providing the balls, Joe Willock supporting from deep and Joelinton continuing to thrive in central midfield, it was a true team effort.

And the importance of spreading the load across the team was aptly underscored by the name of the first goalscorer. After almost an hour of impressive but ultimately unsuccessful play, Fabian Schar struck gold from 30 yards out to establish a lead that was never compromised.

Every outfield starter has made at least one key pass for the hosts. Each of them, with the exception of Targett, had their chance. The forest was tidy at times but created almost nothing and was torn into several pieces. It will be a long season based on this.

Still, not all opponents will be as trained, organized and collaborative as Howe's Newcastle. Not only without the signing of this star striker, but also with their most expensive summer acquisition to watch from the bench to an introductory cameo in stoppage time, the hosts gave St James' Park, strong of 50,000 people, a teasing taste of what might be to come. /p>

It could even be that any new centre-forward will follow Sven Botman's path, at least initially, by having to wait his turn. For Newcastle, having this kind of luxury always feels special and the circumstances behind it are obvious, but it's striking how much their improvement has been underestimated.

Howe would do well to take stock of what he has achieved so far. This is slowly becoming one of those rescues.