This would be a huge statement of intent from Newcastle United | OneFootball

The dust has now settled after that Newcastle United (4th v 5th) Premier League clash against Chelsea at St James’ Park.

Before the game I had received a message from Cockney Noel, an Arsenal fan who I had the pleasure of meeting in Tynemouth Club last year, after Alexander Isak had put the Gunners to the sword at Gallowgate.

Noel had wished me all the best and told me he would be visiting the North East again for a short vacation in a few weeks time.

I’ve a feeling we’re going to have a hell of a lot of football cràic to get through and Arsenal are our next opponents in our penultimate game of the season at the Emirates Stadium.

I woke up early on Monday feeling very satisfied with the weekend’s football fare.

Along with one of the daughters I visited my 88 year old Uncle Bill. His memory not what it used to be but his patter is still good and he remembered the Toon had beaten Chelsea.

Wor Carly dropped me back down on the coast after midday and after a small shop and toby about, I ended up back in Tynemouth Club (almost 24 hours after being there and witnessing our second most important win of this season so far).

My mate Amy, the club’s manageress, is a season ticket holder, and told me she had enjoyed the previous day, but that she was tense and nervous during a fraught second half.

Along with a couple of other good lads at the bar, Jake and Ron, she was of the opinion that we can head to North London on Sunday with a very good chance of winning.

As more people that I knew started coming in, this was the general vibe I was getting. That United can now win our last two games against Arsenal and Everton and finish second in the Premier League.

What a time to be a Toon fan eh?

And can we really be on the verge of becoming a major force in the EPL as well as a strong competitor in Europe??

I think the answer to that question is not just in how we have performed since December 2024 but also how we approach these final two games of the League campaign.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United can send out a huge statement of intent in the next twelve days or so.

I too am beginning to believe that we will soon be riding on a crest of a wave, that the bad days are well behind us and there is everything to look forward to.

Once again, a big thank to Eddie and his fine players and staff won’t go amiss here, not forgetting the debt of gratitude we owe for the proper way our club is now being ran at boardroom level at long last.