It had all been going so well. After leading Newcastle United out as stand-in skipper, Kieran Trippier scored another trademark free-kick against Aston Villa at St James' Park.
That strike ultimately ended up securing three precious points for Newcastle, in a game the Magpies may even have lost not so long ago, but it came at a cost after Trippier suffered a fractured bone in his foot.
It is a body blow for Newcastle. Trippier is not the sole figure behind Newcastle's recent unbeaten run, of course, but the 31-year-old has helped to inspire a turnaround.
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Whether it is having the most touches against Everton (76) or repeatedly telling those around him to 'keep their heads' after scoring against Aston Villa, Trippier has quickly become this team's brain since his £12m move from Atletico Madrid.
In the four league games before Trippier's arrival, after all, Newcastle only picked up a point and conceded 12 goals; in the four league fixtures since, Eddie Howe's side have claimed 10 points and only let in two goals.
Trippier has helped lift morale after encountering some team-mates who were a little low on confidence when he first arrived last month. For example, when heads were down after the humiliating FA Cup defeat against Cambridge United, Trippier stood up in the dressing room and told those around him to forget about it and just take one game at a time. It sounds so simple, but that calmness and sense of perspective is what you need from your leaders during a testing period.
At the same time, Trippier has also helped to raise standards further at the training ground. It is easy to forget that the England international only won La Liga last May and captained his country just a few months ago and Newcastle players desperate to be a part of this new era have rightly wanted to pick his brains and learn from him.
Ryan Fraser said he could not 'praise' Trippier any higher for his impact off the field while even Dan Burn, who has only been at the club a couple of weeks, admitted that the new signing has been 'massive for us'.
Howe knew exactly the sort of character he was bringing into the group, having watched Trippier blossom as a leader since their previous spell together at Burnley, and the right-back has effectively become the head coach's lieutenant in repeatedly telling his team-mates to stay 'calm'.
"He instantly caught the lads' respect straight away just by his demeanour and how he approaches training and his leadership skills," Howe said just last week.
"He was very vocal early on when he came in, in speaking to the group, but, also, then, his performances have spoken for themselves.
"He's determined to be a success in whatever he does. He's got very much a winner's mentality to everything so he's been a key person for us in our uplift in the team's fortunes, really. I can't speak highly enough of him."
As strange as it sounds, Newcastle are in a much better place since Trippier came in to actually be able to cope with his absence. As well as being four points clear of safety, and playing with renewed confidence, the Magpies also have a stronger backline to boot.
Newcastle's shape out of possession has been prioritised on the training pitches as Howe and his staff look to put a firm foundation in place - and those hours on the training ground are starting to pay off.
It would have been hard to imagine Newcastle keeping clean sheets not so long ago but Howe's side have kept both Leeds and Aston Villa at bay while also conceding just a solitary goal in the win against Everton last week. Tellingly, new signings Dan Burn and Matt Targett both played their part at various points.
Newcastle went into survival mode a little too early for Howe's liking against Villa but, despite so many changes at the back, crucially, the black-and-whites closed the game out - even without Trippier.
Trippier and Javier Manquillo both went off midway through the Villa game but, tellingly, Newcastle held firm, having already been without the unwell Jamaal Lascelles and the ineligible Matt Targett.
The big question now is whether Manquillo will be fit to play at West Ham on Saturday, after landing awkwardly on his ankle, or if Emil Krafth keeps his place after coming on against Villa.
Manquillo is a fine understudy but, despite being one of Newcastle's only recognised right-backs, ironically, Krafth has looked better as a right-sided centre-back in a five under Howe.
That was the position Krafth ended up finishing Sunday's game in after Howe switched to 5-4-1 after the Sweden international was very nearly punished for holding a deep line in the build-up to Ollie Watkins' disallowed goal.
Ryan Fraser moved over to right wing-back but, perhaps, it would be a surprise if Howe shook things up from the start at the London Stadium given how connected the team has looked in a 4-3-3 in recent weeks.
Newcastle's forwards are pressing more effectively; the midfield is offering more protection and control; and the backline is not as vulnerable as it once was.
Trippier, a vocal organiser, has played his part in that process, of course, and his presence will certainly be missed.
It will fall to these experienced heads to maintain the standards he has helped set.
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