Eddie Howe stated before the game he is only looking at signing "elite players" as he continues to plot Newcastle United's future.
A lot has changed in between Newcastle's last two trips to Villa Park in the 2021/22 campaign and the current 2022/23 season. Howe has replaced Steve Bruce in the dugout, Mike Ashley has been ousted and replaced by Amanda Staveley and wealthy Saudi-backers and the feeling of apathy at St James' Park has been replaced by healthy optimism.
That optimism was still rightly in place at the end of play on Saturday in the Premier League as Newcastle were handed a favour by AFC Bournemouth meaning the gap between themselves and Spurs is still in place. Even the best teams - ask Arsenal and Man City - suffer off days in the top-flight.
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And while there were some cutting remarks on social media directed at Newcastle, the supporters present at Villa Park stayed behind to give the players and staff a warm ovation. This was a stark contrast to the day Bruce and Ashley's United suffered a 2-0 loss back in August 2021.
That day many fans, understandably, voted with their feet and headed out of Villa Park long before the final whistle. The team sheet had changed dramatically from 2021 to 2023 too.
Just Fabian Schar, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock were the only survivors from the starting team sheet 19 months ago. The starting line-up on Saturday contained two England internationals, a Brazil international and a clutch of rejuvenated stars.
And by the time Newcastle return to Villa next season, there's no doubt there could be more stars sprinkled around the pitch.
Eddie Howe could name the most exciting frontline yet against Tottenham Hotspur
The 35-minute run out handed to Miguel Almiron showed the Paraguay international and top scorer is on his way back from a thigh injury that halted his season last month. It could even put him in line to start against Spurs - the team he inflicted misery on back in October in the capital with a well-taken individual goal.
Should Almiron make it back he could join both Allan Saint-Maximin, pushing for fitness, and Alexander Isak in attack. Throw in Anthony Gordon into the mix against the team that tried to sign him only last season, Howe has an embarrassment of riches offensively.
It could leave Spurs with a huge task on their hands if they all play some part and the demoralised Londoners can't pick themselves up after losing to Bournemouth.
Champions League fate can be decided with home form
Newcastle have just eight games left of the 2022/23 season and the good news is that five of those matches are on Tyneside. It means that United fans could roar their team to the Champions League and the reality is that their place at Europe's top table could be sealed before the trip to Stamford Bridge on the final day.
Beating Spurs next Sunday will undoubtedly push them ever closer to the top four and then it could boil down to games against Arsenal, Leicester, Southampton and Brighton. Tricky away trips to Leeds and Everton also lie in wait, but that clash against Chelsea could yet prove to be a party atmosphere if things go as they have for most of the season.
Just to compare, Spurs' run-in starts with the clash at St James' Park but they then face Man United at home and must go to Liverpool. There are also trips to Leeds and Villa which Newcastle discovered is no picnic.
They also have home encounters with Brentford and Crystal Palace which won't be easy given Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is under extreme pressure from protesting supporters.
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