NEWCASTLE UNITED are up and running in the Premier League after Spanish striker Joselu helped steer them to a first win since promotion.

On an encouraging afternoon for the Magpies, who caused problems for West Ham United consistently during the 90 minutes, Rafael Benitez got to celebrate a much-needed, and comprehensive, 3-0 victory at St James’ Park.

Newcastle started positively and finally got the breakthrough in the 36th minute when Joselu marked his first start since leaving Stoke City with a goal.

There were a few scares at the other end but overall it was Newcastle who caused problems for the Hammers, who have lost all three of their opening league games, and Ciaran Clark added to their woes with a 72nd minute header.

There was also a third to celebrate too, when Aleksandar Mitrovic emerged from the bench – with Dwight Gayle omitted again – rounded Joe Hart to complete the win with four minutes remaining.

Benitez – desperate for transfer progress before this Thursday’s deadline - might have aired his frustrations beforehand about the standard and lack of players he wanted to bring in over the summer, but the team he fielded still turned in a positive performance.

He made ten changes to the side which was dumped out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, with £5m striker Joselu handed his first start in the Premier League since his move.

And Joselu, while not particularly pleasing on the eye with his style of play, made life difficult for the visitors from start to finish and was rewarded with the first goal of the game nine minutes before half-time.

He made his presence felt earlier than that by arriving at the front post early on to turn a delivery from Isaac Hayden wide, while he was clearly intent on putting West Ham’s defenders under pressure.

Hayden, excellent in the middle alongside the lively Mikel Merino who between them set the tempo for Newcastle’s play, went close with a drive from 20 yards too. Clear-cut chances were not that regular, but it was the home side which looked more dangerous.

That was proven with the opener. Pressure on the West Ham midfield in their own half resulted in Merino picking up the loose ball. He was quick to set Christian Atsu free inside the penalty.

Atsu’s pace got him away from everyone and rather than shoot for goal he rolled a pass across the face of the six yard box for Joselu to slide in and find the net – and that was fully deserved for a promising opening 45 minutes.

Having set the standard, Benitez’s challenge was to ensure his players repeated that performance after the restart.

They were quick to have two early chances when Ayoze Perez’s run into the area almost got turned in at the back post, while Matt Ritchie drilled a low effort a yard wide.

As long as it took Newcastle to score a second, though, West Ham remained in with a chance and they were within inches of levelling eight minutes after the break.

Aaron Cresswell’s initial effort from 25 yards was saved by Rob Elliot, who did just enough to thwart Javier Hernandez’s rebound. Just as it looked like the ball could squirm over the line, Ciaran Clark was on hand to clear.

Newcastle found an extra gear. Ritchie forced Hart into another stop low to his right after some excellent hold up play from Perez – and they finally got the second they required.

Ritchie’s persistence down the right earned him possession and, seconds after Mitrovic was introduced to keep the West Ham defence on its toes, his teasing cross was perfect for Clark to head in off the far post.

After that it was a case of how many, as Newcastle’s players clearly enjoyed themselves. They had to settle for three. Mitrovic, who had been denied seconds earlier by Hart, rounded the England goalkeeper and found the empty net to cap a solid win.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Manquillo, Lascelles, Mbemba, Clark; Hayden (Diame 82), Merino; Ritchie (Murphy 88), Perez, Atsu; Joselu (Mitrovic 71). Subs: Saivet, Gamez, Woodman (gk), Aarons.

WEST HAM UNITED (4-3-2-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble (Kouyate 71), Fernandes, Rice (Lanzini 46); Antonio, Ayew (Sakho 70); Hernandez. Subs (not used): Fonte, Adrian (gk), Obiang, Masuaku.