Newcastle United

Newcastle United could only have dreamed of signing stars like John Barnes, Ian Rush and Stuart Pearce at the start of the 1990s.

He would be the longest survivor of the "Dad's Army" era at St James' Park, but after 15 appearances in the 1998/99 season he fell foul of Ruud Gullit. Gullit had replaced the sacked Dalglish and became the first senior star he moved out of the dressing room. Pearce was 35 when he made the shock switch to join Rush, Barnes and Dalglish but proved a big hit with the Geordie faithful. "But Newcastle was the challenge I needed. To be fair to Ruud, I've got to hold my hands up, he never once said watch your tackling in training." On his time at St James' Park, Pearce says: "My agent made me aware that there might be the potential of going to Newcastle. Another who struggled to make a massive impact was one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation in Ian Rush. Rush always admitted he was merely signed as "cover" but Shearer's injury pushed him up the pecking order and by January, Tino Asprilla had also been sold back to Parma. Newcastle is a huge club, a big stage and I still believe I can perform at the very highest level. But United finished the season in 13th place and slipped down the table from second just a year earlier. And before I heard of the interest from Newcastle I was virtually certain I was going to join them. But by 1997, they had all three on their books after an intriguing summer on Tyneside under Kenny Dalglish.

Eddie Howe's side take on Erik ten Hag's Red Devils again after the international break, but this will not be a revenge mission.

Of course Alexander Isak was the leader of the hit parade but he was closely followed by Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy and Elliot Anderson. However cometh the hour cometh the man and in United's last two victories those challenged to produce did so spectacularly. He has hardly been forgiven for his disastrous season in charge of the black and white United which paved the way for relegation. How we were all made to suffer and told to be grateful for the humiliation because, well, the club was not about to be put into administration. However despite the difference between what happened a few weeks ago and what awaits in a week's time it must still be recognised that victory over Man U would be loved by those of black-and-white loyalty. [Alan Shearer,](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/alan-shearer) Les Ferdinand and crew slaughtered Manchester United 5-0 at SJP in October of 96 topped off by an audacious Philippe Albert chip over the world's best keeper Peter Schmeichel but, no, it was not the ultimate revenge. [Bruno](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/bruno-guimaraes) because as I've said many times his sharpness has looked a tad blunted with him courageously carrying a niggling ankle injury. United need all hands on deck for a big run-in. He is suspended, which I mind not a bit, while Newcastle's other Brazilian Joelinton is freed from his shackles. [Almiron](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/miguel-almiron) set to be sidelined for a while which is heartbreaking for a lad having his best goalscoring season but at least Jacob and Elliot provide good cover out wide where Joelinton can be utilised once again with Willock bombing in the middle of the park. [Nick Pope](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/nick-pope) will be perfectly all right but Miggy Almiron and Anthony Gordon are big worries while [Fabian Schar](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/fabian-schar) withdrew from Swiss international duty because of a persistent foot injury and Callum Wilson is far from in the rudest of health. . .