NEWCASTLE fans are fearing even more doom and gloom after a disastrous opening 45 minutes following their "worst starting XI" ever.

If new boss Steve Bruce didn't know how big the task at hand was before, he certainly does now after they crashed to an early 3-0 loss against Wolves in their pre-season tour of Asia.

It will come as little surprise to supporters after the club announced their starting XI.

It has been a terrible summer for Toon supporters having lost manager Rafa Benitez and a number of their key players.

A deal to make Salomon Rondon's move a permanent one fell through while Ayoze Perez also joined Leicester in a £30million deal.

So it is no surprise to see their first line-up full of fringe players.

Yoshinori Muto, who scored one league goal last season, starts in attack ahead of a midfield of Matt Ritchie, Jacob Murphy, Jack Colback, Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden.

In defence Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles play alongside Achraf Lazaar and Jamie Sterry.

Lazaar had an unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday last season while Sterry made one appearance in League Two for Crewe.

And fans are already fearing the worst after their team news was shared on social media.

One person said: "Christ, could've given me a game if you're handing them out like that."

Another added: "This is the worst starting XI I've ever seen, with the worst Newcastle manager."

A third bluntly said: "Look at the state of that. It's not even a Championship team."

There is no sign of striker Dwight Gayle on the bench after being linked with a move away from the club.

Fans are completely fed up with owner Mike Ashley and are hitting him in the pocket with almost 12,000 season tickets left unsold.

On Monday Newcastle put them on general sale after the deadline passed for existing holders to renew their seats.

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