Newcastle United know three points against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend would send a real statement of intent as they look to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2003-04, when they knocked out of the competition in the third qualifying round by FK Partizan.
Spurs are just one of the sides standing between the Magpies and a return to battling out with Europe's elite clubs once again. Heading into the game, Eddie Howe's side are three points ahead of the visitors and boast a game in hand.
Defeat to Cristian Stellini's side would not see them drop out of the top-four, but would make for a nervy end to the season. As Newcastle know all too well, Spurs are able to boast one of the best strikers in the world in Harry Kane, who has an impressive record at St James' Park.
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In eight Premier League appearances on Tyneside, Kane has scored eight goals and has one assist to his name with history suggesting a goal could well be on the cards this weekend. Newcastle have kept Kane quiet on four occasions out of those eight, but one of his early appearances came back in 2012 as a late substitute when he broke onto the scene.
Last season, Kane scored and grabbed an assist as Spurs came from behind to pile further pressure on Steve Bruce in his final game in charge of the Magpies. It was the first Premier League fixture under new ownership, and much has changed since then.
Kane's goalscoring prowess, however, has not. In 2019/20 and 2020/21, the Spurs striker scored a brace on both trips to St. James' Park with the visitors taking four points from six available to them. The banks of the River Tyne have been a happy hunting ground for the England international and keeping him quiet on Sunday will only boost the Magpies' hopes of winning the game.
