Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren believes that people can judge how much his side have progressed only after their Premier League opener against Southampton.
The Magpies have endured a shaky pre-season in terms of results and recently succumbed to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at the hands of minnows York City.
Despite some undesirable results during the summer, McClaren is not getting too worried and has insisted that the real litmus test of their progress can be ascertained only after the Magpies' season opener against Southampton at St James' Park on August 8.
McClaren told the Chronicle: "I can't count how many pre-seasons I have had so far – and I have had good ones, bad ones and indifferent ones.
"You just never know until that first game. And that's where we are at. We don't know because it's been very short. We've come in and had a lot of travelling in the States.
"We've come back and we are trying to catch our legs again. We should do that by Saturday. I am pleased with the workouts we have had and pleased with the attitude of the players.
"Saturday will give us a fair indication of where we are at. In the long-term, I have been very impressed with what we have got and what we will have."