It's been a great start to the season for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe and you only have to look at the Premier League table for the calendar year to see how far the Magpies have come in a short space of time. They sit fourth in 2022 and that has been bolstered by a good start to the 2022/23 campaign.
But now comes the ultimate test against the Premier League champions Manchester City and a team that Dan Burn has already called: "The best side in the world". Newcastle were beaten 5-0 against Man City at the end of last season but a full house will roar them on to the hallowed turf this weekend.
Games against City have now become even harder with the arrival of £85million man Erling Haaland but Newcastle are capable of giving it a good crack against Pep Guardiola's men. They'll need a good start of course but they are guaranteed the backing of the crowd.
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One takeaway from Pep's quotes this week has been talk of Haaland finding it difficult with two "holding midfielders" around him. Guardiola pinpointed the threat of Newcastle's holding midfielders during the 2-1 defeat on Tyneside in 2019 when Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden had a great night.
Hayden of course has since been moved on while Longstaff may not be guaranteed a start. Every detail of this game will be analysed from the team sheet being released at 2pm up until the final whistle.
But Newcastle's midfield duo of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton could have key parts to play. Can the Magpies pull off another shock home win over City? Stranger things have happened.
Cup draw sparks memories
It wasn't the ideal draw for Newcastle in the second round of the League Cup when they plucked Tranmere Rovers out the hat last week. True, United should still get the job done against the League Two side on the Wirral but many would have preferred lower league opponents at home.
There's certainly history between the two teams in the cups though. You could go back to the infamous 6-6 draw in the Zenith Data Systems Cup in 1991 when Newcastle lost on Sky to Rovers on penalties at Prenton Park.
They did better in 1998 when Paul Dalglish's goal won it in the Worthington Cup with Ruud Gullit in charge. And then who could forget the FA Cup sixth round tie in 2000 when Geordies invaded Tranmere's ground for a 3-2 win under Bobby Robson.
Newcastle have the edge on divisional status and recent history but Prenton Park has been a cup graveyard for many sides down the years. One other shock fact is that Tranmere have been to a major final more recently than Newcastle - again back in 2000 when they played in the League Cup showpiece against Leicester at Wembley.
And finally
The last two weeks of the window are now upon us. Newcastle's management team did believe they'd be done and dusted by now but aren't panicking.
I still think we will see at least two arrivals and two or three departures before deadline days - so watch this space.
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