Win, lose or draw, there is one question that will always remain with Newcastle United for the foreseeable future. It is a year on from the controversial takeover which led some lifelong fans to question their ongoing support.
On the pitch, Eddie Howe's side go from strength to strength and a cumulative transfer spend in excess of £200 million has ushered in an exciting new era. But off the pitch, the connection to Saudi Arabia means the Magpies are now regularly drawn into controversies at the front of the newspaper as well as the back.
The Public Investment Fund are the majority backers of the controlling consortium, with the Premier League insisting 'legally binding assurances' have been made to guarantee Newcastle will not be controlled by Saudi Arabia. This has done little in the eyes of many to assuage fears that United became one of the latest instruments of sportswashing.
