It's unbelievable how much difference Newcastle United's success on the field, can make to my life off it.

For the last two months I've been generally a happy lad. Spring in my step again, a warm and genuine 'good morning' to everyone I pass on the field when I'm walking my dog, and even singing Elvis songs in the shower. Thinking about it, is it any coincidence, that here we are, four games into the new season, Newcastle United unbeaten and up near the right end of the Premier League table?

Last season, as Bobby Moncur and I travelled wearily from game to game for Century FM, we found it increasingly difficult to get excited about all things black and white.

The long treks back from places like Reading and Portsmouth had become quieter than normal, as Captain Bob and I struggled to think of positive things to say.

Bob's a great inspiration for me, and my mentor, and I know he worries for my health when the Magpies wings aren't working properly, so looking back I can understand his reasoning when he, on occasion, tried to move the conversation away from the beautiful game.

This season however it's all change. I'm waking up on matchday with that buzz in my stomach! Don't get me wrong though, I'm no fool. Anyone who knows anything about football knows that when a club makes a big change, there's always a honeymoon period, and let's face it, when it comes to making changes, there's few clubs can lay claim to going through such a huge transitional period, as the one that's taken place at St James' Park this summer.

Having said that though, I have to say, I like Sam Allardyce, the things he says are straight and to the point, and he believes in players.

With Big Sam I feel his strength is that he truly believes in people. A great example would be Charles N'Zogbia.

Charlie's career looked over on Tyneside when he was left out of the side at Watford on the final day of last season. The majority of fans would have been forgiven for thinking we'd seen the last of the flying frenchman.

How wrong we were. Playing out of position, and full of confidence, Charles N'Zogbia has been the suprise package of the season so far! I watched him play for France Under-21s against Wales, and he looked like he was the kind of player who will easily make the leap into international football, to put it another way - he was the best player on the park!

Even when the supposed Spanish sensation Jose Enrique finds full fitness he'll struggle to dislodge N'Zogbia, and just to think Newcastle United haven't had a great left back since John Beresford.

Finally... It wouldn't be fair if I didn't talk about Michael Owen. Those of you who listened to Century FM a couple of weeks ago for the game with Wigan will know that I nearly destroyed my vocal chords when the Magpies record signing grabbed the late winner.

And having watched him play for England, it gives me another reason to smile on a day to day basis. I don't think many Geordies have ever truly believed that Michael Owen plays for Newcastle United. And who can blame them?

After signing in a whirlwind in 2005 the scant amount of games he's played has been devastating, not just for the Toon Army, but for Michael also.

However, as he took the ball down on the edge of the box against Israel, and rifled it into the top corner on the turn, once again that wave of joy washed over me. His goals against Russia were just as good.

"He plays for Newcastle United'' I thought, and I wondered whether Owen's return to form might just about some up the way things are going for the Magpies at the moment.

There's undoubtedly a long journey ahead of us this season, but things feel different this time around, don't they? And as long as the Black and Whites are winning games, I'll be a happy lad, and that, believe me, is good news for all of us.... Just ask Captain Bob!

Pete Graves is the Newcastle United commentator for Century FM.