Right, we now know exactly where we are come the resumption of domestic hostilities after the tasty dessert served up in the desert.
We also have the signposts clearly marked in the search for a domestic trophy after 67 years of emptiness. Newcastle's very first match back in competition is home to Bournemouth on Wednesday, December 21, to reach the last eight of the League Cup.
And the fifth game on the fixture list is now against League One Sheffield Wednesday away at the start of FA Cup action for Premier League clubs.
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Oh, I know for an awful lot of fans the exciting chase for Champions League football will naturally be centre stage and dominate thoughts on the resumption of domestic football but why not let us keep ALL options open at this relatively early stage?
Europe plus the domestic cups and see where that takes us in terms of landing at least one of three goals instead of shooting for a single target and perhaps narrowly missing. There is no need for all our eggs to be in one basket!
As it happens genuine chances are neatly spread over all competitions. The league is there to be resumed under what has become normal routine with Leicester and Leeds next and both domestic cup-ties are more than winnable.
Let us be truthful. Big beasts like Arsenal, Spurs, and Chelsea have been cleared off the League Cup path and another, either Man City or Liverpool, will inevitably follow.
In other words this is an ideal opportunity to go for broke. Probably only the two Manchester clubs, habitual League Cup winners City and Ronaldoless United, are the two real threats so let us have a real bash.
Should Newcastle be afraid of the so-called big guys anyway? Certainly not. Both Manchesters have failed to beat them this season while Liverpool only did it in the 98th minute and are currently three positions and a significant eight points behind the Mags.
Consider the fourth round draw for confirmation that opportunity knocks: Man City v Liverpool, Man Utd v Burnley, Newcastle v Bournemouth, MK Dons v Leicester, Charlton v Brighton, Wolves v Gillingham, Southampton v Lincoln, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest.
Of course the major drawback is that Bournemouth make the arduous journey to Tyneside just three days after the World Cup final.
While that will not effect them it could us. Bruno Guimaraes would not feature if Brazil reach the final showdown while how far England go will decide the immediate future of Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Nick Pope.
In any case fortune favours the brave. Bournemouth, Leicester, Sheff Wed, we target you all. Meanwhile Eddie Howe's squad, excluding those involved at the World Cup, travel to Riyadh on Sunday for a week-long training camp which includes a friendly against Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal.
United then host La Liga's Rayo Vallecano at St James' Park on Saturday, December 17, before taking on Bournemouth for a place in the league cup quarter-finals when new boss Gary O'Neil will lead them into competition.
O'Neil, just 39 years of age, produced a level record of four wins, four draws, and four defeats in his 12-match stint as caretaker. I never thought I would be saying this but our manager is the elder statesman here. Howe celebrated his 45th birthday on Tuesday!
Well Eddie got an early pressie with the FA Cup draw. Bring them on. All of them.
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