Jaissle on pain which set him on path to Newcastle and speaking with Howe

"It was the biggest setback in my life so far," the Newcastle United head coach said. "I was in a real low at that time." Jaissle was just 25 when a serious knee injury ended his playing career. After realising his dream of winning promotion to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim only a few years previously, the former defender suddenly found himself plunged into darkness.

But this painful experience ultimately set him on the path to St James' Park. "I got to know the heavy side of life," he said. "I had to stop and quit my career as a footballer quite early, but that also showed me that you can see all challenges in a positive way and see the opportunity behind it.

"Now I'm here as manager of Newcastle United. I couldn't dream about that 15 years ago. That's life." Such perspective helps explain why Jaissle has embraced a huge task at Newcastle after he was parachuted into the hotseat just a few weeks before the start of the season.

It has been another turbulent summer on Tyneside after head coach Eddie Howe stepped down and key players Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon left the club. However, Jaissle sees an opportunity, refusing to "waste energy" speaking about the game's financial rules, which have limited their overall spending power and heightened the need to trade. "I like challenges," the ex-Al-Ahli and Red Bull Salzburg manager said.

"I try to see in all challenges the chance in it, so therefore I'm here. "Of course you can complain about the timing, the big transition, all the sales the club did, but we will not. Newcastle have made six signings in Lukas Hornicek, Ewen Jaouen, Amar Dedic, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure, but the new arrivals are all aged 24 and under and will need time to adapt to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League.

Further reinforcements are clearly required and Jaissle is "confident there will be changes" before the summer transfer window shuts on 1 September. The German remains undaunted despite a number of pundits predicting a season of strife for his side. "Everyone is somehow against us or do not think we can play a good role in the Premier League," he said.