All eyes on the Asia Cup?
For fans of Birmingham City, Chelsea and Newcastle United the forthcoming season is one of the most hotly anticipated in recent years.
In the case of Birmingham it's another, perhaps unexpected, season in the big time, for Chelsea and Newcastle, providing they can negotiate a qualifying round, the Champions League beckons as does another chance to usurp the domestic dominance of Manchester United and Arsenal.
With much to gain and plenty to lose each of the three teams are all equally keen to ensure that they begin the season fully prepared, fully fit and fully focussed on the challenges that lay ahead.
It is for these reasons, not to mention a few commercial ones as well, that in the next few days they will all travel to Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, to compete in the Premier League's inaugural Asia Cup.
The competition, which is being held at Kuala Lumpur's 86,542-capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium from July 24th-27th, incorporates four matches: Birmingham against Newcastle; Chelsea taking on Malaysia; a 3rd place play-off and the final.
The tournament offers the teams not only to opportunity to come face to face with the not inconsiderable adulation of their South-east Asia supporters, but also, particularly for Birmingham and Newcastle, the chance to pit themselves against top flight English opposition in a competitive arena.
For Chelsea taking on Malaysia, managed by Allan Harris, himself a former Chelsea player and the brother of the infamous Stamford Bridge legend Ron 'Chopper' Harris, will perhaps not be their most important pre-season game, nevertheless it will be a good opportunity for coach Claudio Ranieri to try and gel his side together.
Perhaps it is an understatement to say it is an exciting time to be Chelsea fan.
As if last season's final day victory over Liverpool to clinch the last available place in the Champions League wasn't enough then came the arrival of a free-spending new owner in form of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
When 51-year-old Ranieri penned his new long-term deal in April 2002 it is unlikely he would have envisaged how eventful the next 15 months would be.
However, regardless of leading Chelsea back into the Champions League the likeable Italian now finds himself under the microscope.
With Abramovich and his deep pockets continually linked with high profile managers Ranieri must steel himself for the pressures of having to return another great season for the fans and his new boss.
In Kuala Lumpur it is likely that new players: 18-year-old Glen Johnson, a £6million signing from West Ham; and Cameroon international Geremi, bought for £7million from Real Madrid, will line up for the Blues.
For these two it appears the Chelsea's title-winning potential was central to their decision to join the South-west London outfit.
On signing Geremi said: 'I have got a lot of ambition. I would like to win a lot of titles. That's why I have come here. I know that Chelsea are going to sign big players. That's good for all of us and let's see what happens.
Similarly Johnson said: 'With all the attention we're getting and the money being supplied by Mr Abramovich, there will be a lot of pressure on the team to deliver next season. We have to make a genuine challenge for the Premiership title and I'm sure we will do that'.
It is unlikely that a deal can be arranged for 24-year-old Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff to complete his £17-million transfer from Blackburn in time for him to make his Chelsea debut in KL, but his imminent arrival is another shot in the arm for Ranieri and the club.
If Duff does sign he will join, along with Germei and Johnson, a team of highly promising young players such as Frank Lampard, John Terry, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Carlton Cole as well as talented, seasoned professionals with the likes of Manu Petit and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The challenge then for Ranierei will be to marry youth and experience and forge a solid unit and at the same time ensure that progress is made in the Premiership and the Champions League, all under the watchful eye of Abramovich.
Before the Russian took over at Stamford Bridge Ranierei said: 'You cannot buy championships. Now it is important to improve our young players'.
Perhaps Abramovich thinks differently, time will tell.
Prior to announcing his squad for the Asia Cup Newcastle United's evergreen boss Sir Bobby Robson made it clear that he would not be taking the inaugural event lightly.
'While we are thrilled to be among the teams coming out for this first-ever tournament', said the 70-year-old, 'We are going to Malaysia to win the tournament - for fans in Asia as well as those back home in Newcastle'.
A point stressed by his captain, and one man certain to receive a rapturous welcome, Alan Shearer, who added: 'It is going to be a great match-up in Malaysia. We are excited to be invited and we are looking to be winners of the cup.'
This is arguably the club's most important season in years, and recent history suggests that competitive warm-up games as opposed to tame friendlies suit Newcastle down to the ground.
Two summers ago the Magpies entered the Intertoto Cup, a decision which cut short the players' summer break and ultimately failed to get them into the UEFA Cup, but generated a momentum - they had played seven competitive games by August 21 - which proved to be platform for their surge into fourth place in the Premiership and a Champions League slot.
Although Robson led Newcastle to the Champions League last season their lethargic start to the campaign suggested their pre-season preparation was not all it could have been.
If the club are to progress further in the Champions League this year they must make some improvements, and in Lee Boyer Sir Bobby believes they have done just that.
It will be a big year for the 26-year-old, who is likely to make his debut in Malaysia following his free transfer to St James' Park.
Bowyer has so-far been Robson's only summer signing and despite scandal and controversy surrounding his off-field misdemeanours the player still has the potential to become one of England finest midfielders.
Bowyer's combative, aggressive brand of football all too often overshadows the fact that he can cross and pass the ball with accuracy and shoot from range with devastating results. If he can recapture his form and lay his demons to rest Bowyer could find himself on the fringes of the England squad.
One Newcastle player not making the trip to Malaysia will be striker Lomana LuaLua, who has been withdrawn from the squad to recuperate following four days' training after playing for the Democratic Republic of Congo in their successful African Nations' Cup qualifying campaign.
While question marks are hovering over England defender Jonathan Woodgate's involvement in the Asia Cup.
Although in the squad the 23-year-old is facing a race against time prove his fitness for the first game after damaging a thigh muscle in training.
However, the absence of Woodgate could provide the opportunity for Andy O'Brien, Titus Bramble, Aaron Hughes and Steve Caldwell to compete for his place in the Newcastle defence.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Kuala Lumpur Birmingham boss Steve Bruce, echoing the sentiments of Bobby Robson, said: 'While this is a good pre-season warm-up for us, I am confident the players will put up a strong performance and in fact have an equal chance of taking home this title as any of the other teams in this tournament.'
Based on league performance last year, and the strength of the Malaysian national side, it seems most likely that Birmingham will be challenging the host country for the third place play-off.
But to assume so would discount the enviable fighting spirit Bruce has instilled in his side, a spirit which was only hardened when against all odds the Blues managed to prove all the doubters wrong and avoid relegation last term.
While revealing that he and his players are relishing the prospect of testing themselves against the best once again next season, Bruce has stressed the importance of 'keeping our feet on the ground'.
'This past season, we have shown our mettle and resilience among some tough teams in the Premier League and these lads have not disappointed their fans. While this is a good pre-season warm up for us, I am confident the players will put up a strong performance and in fact have an equal chance of taking home this title as any of the other teams in the [Asia Cup].'
As Birmingham attempt to consolidate their position pressure will fall not only on Bruce but on French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry, who following his arrival last season galvanised City and helped them to a run of seven wins in nine matches which enabled them to secure their survival with two games to spare and 13th place finish.
Over the last six month Upson has gone from a reserve at Arsenal to becoming a regular Premiership player at St. Andrews and played in all three of England's summer internationals - including the all-important Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia.
Upson, who will be part of the City squad taking part in the Asia Cup, said: 'It was a real boost confidence-wise to be involved with England for three games - especially when you go back to your club.
'I am really looking forward to the new season. An experience like that at the end of the season is bound to help me progress as a person as well as a player.
Upson's defensive partner and Republic Of Ireland skipper Kenny Cunningham, who will also take part in the Asia Cup, has no doubts that the 24-year-old has the qualities to become a regular international player.
'Matthew has got all the attributes needed at international level and he was one of the main reasons why Birmingham stayed in the Premiership', said Cunningham, 'Dugarry got a lot of the plaudits, and rightly so, but Matthew was a big reason why we became so tight at the back'.
For his part, Allan Harris is confident his Malaysian side will rise to the occasion and put up their best performance in the tournament against some of the Premier League's top sides
'We have a young side, but the team are no strangers to playing world class international teams who have visited Malaysia in the past year. We are preparing hard for this tournament and intend to make sure we do Malaysian fans proud.'
The performance of the Malaysian side under Harris' control will also come in for close scrutiny after a series of defeats to European club sides.
The former England Football Association technical director and ex-Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson was recently linked to a role with the Malaysian team.
Wilkinson, who quit his FA post to move to the Stadium of Light last year - only to be sacked in March after a dismal run of results, is reported to be spending three weeks in the Far East overseeing Malaysia's coaching set-up.
Regardless of the results for the respective teams involved the popularity of the Asia Cup is expected to increase after its first outing, and so encouraged have the Premier League been in the build up to the event that it is already planning to make the Asia Cup a permanent fixture in its calendar.
