Yesterday at a quarter past six in the morning, a group of Newcastle fans were waiting for Eddie Howe at the gates of the training ground.
A few hours earlier, at a comedy club in the city centre, a sold-out season preview event featuring journalists and supporters was pushing back the boundaries of last orders.
Optimism and enthusiasm for Howe and his team are pulsing through Tyneside 24/7 right now. Until recently, the comedy club was Newcastle United.
It says much for the esteem in which fans hold Howe that, during the True Faith live show on Thursday evening, some expressed concern that England will come calling for their head coach before the season is out.