STEVE McCLAREN'S first competitive game in charge of Newcastle United will see the Magpies entertain Southampton on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.

However, with the Saints due to play a Europa League third-round qualifying game on Thursday, August 6, it is likely that Newcastle's opening fixture will be switched to Sunday, August 9 rather than taking place on the opening day 24 hours earlier.

Either way, Newcastle will kick off the new campaign at St James' Park, before travelling to Swansea City for their opening away fixture.

Things then get trickier with August also seeing a home game with Manchester United before Newcastle head to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.

September sees a home game with champions Chelsea on the 26th, a game that precedes what is likely to be a testing trip to Manchester City.

The opening derby game of the season sees Newcastle travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on October 24.

The Magpies are at home on Boxing Day, taking on Everton, with a trip to West Brom coming in between Christmas and New Year. With no New Year's Day matches this year, Newcastle head to Arsenal on January 2.

February sees a trip to Chelsea preceding the home game with Manchester City, and the second derby fixture sees Newcastle hosting Sunderland on Tyneside on March 19.

The final away game of the season takes United to Aston Villa on May 7, with the campaign ending with a home game against Tottenham on May 15.

Newcastle's 2015-16 fixtures:

Aug 8 SOUTHAMPTON (H)

Aug 15 Swansea City (a)

Aug 22 Man United (a)

Aug 29 ARSENAL (H)

Sep 12 West Ham United (a)

Sep 19 WATFORD (H)

Sep 26 CHELSEA (H)

Oct 3 Manchester City (a)

Oct 17 NORWICH CITY (H)

Oct 24 Sunderland (a)

Oct 31 STOKE CITY (H)

Nov 7 Bournemouth (a)

Nov 21 LEICESTER (H)

Nov 28 Crystal Palace (a)

Dec 5 LIVERPOOL (H)

Dec 12 Tottenham Hotspur (a)

Dec 19 ASTON VILLA (H)

Dec 26 EVERTON (H)

Dec 28 West Bromwich Albion (a)

Jan 2 Arsenal (a)

Jan 13 MANCHESTER UNITED (H)

Jan 16 WEST HAM UNITED (H)

Jan 23 Watford (a)

Feb 3 Everton (a)

Feb 6 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (H)

Feb 13 Chelsea (a)

Feb 27 MANCHESTER CITY (H)

Mar 2 Stoke City (a)

Mar 5 BOURNEMOUTH (H)

Mar 12 Leicester City (a)

Mar 19 SUNDERLAND (H)

Apr 2 Norwich City (a)

Apr 9 Southampton (a)

Apr 16 SWANSEA CITY (H)

Apr 23 Liverpool (a)

Apr 30 CRYSTAL PALACE (H)

May 7 Aston Villa (a)

May 15 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (H)