It is difficult to work out whether Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Southampton on Sunday that started their season was a good point won or two points dropped but there are things that they were certainly happy with after the game.

Newcastle come to Swansea on Saturday in a clash of two teams who drew 2-2 on the opening weekend but whilst we know that ours is a point won (even though it could easily have been three) for the Geordies it could be seen as two lost as they conceded late on and will always be looking to win their home games.

It is a big season for Newcastle who only secured their place in the Premier League on the last day of last season and they will be looking to do much better this time around.

There was a real feeling that Newcastle could have dropped to the Championship again last season after a terrible run of form at the back end of the season but they survived and with a change in management this summer they went into the new season with hopes high that they could move themselves up the league and certainly away from any relegation dog fight.

In the opening game new manager Steve McLaren sprung a little surprise by pairing together Chancel Mbemba and Fabricio Coloccini in the centre of defence and he looks set to do the same thing again at the Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

McClaren has competition for places in that area with Paul Dummett soon to be fit and Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson and Jamaal Lascelles also vying for action this season.

But ahead of the clash in Swansea McClaren said: “Mbemba had played 25 minutes.

“Coloccini is the same but it looks like they played with each other forever! So we have to build on that. That’s a positive.”

The Swans could also come face to face with summer transfer target Aleksandar Mitrovic although many believed he could have been sent off last Saturday within 15 seconds of coming on for his debut.

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