It is cliché in football that the upcoming match is always the most important, but for Manchester United, that could really be the case. Erik ten Hag has worked hard to tackle complacency in his first season at the club and has continuously demanded that his players focus on the task at hand rather than looking too far ahead.
It will be a similar message heading into this weekend. United could yet win another two trophies before the end of the season and qualify for the Champions League, but first they must navigate one of their toughest tests yet.
United defeated Newcastle in their most recent meeting under the Wembley arch last month, but were held to a goalless draw by Eddie Howe's side earlier in the season.
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Ten Hag knows it won't be easy this Sunday, and he will be equally aware that the next result could set the tone for the rest of the Premier League season.
For all the progress they have made during the campaign, the obvious criticism of this United side is that they aren't as impressive on the road as they are at home.
United have taken 30 points at home this season, but just 20 in away matches this campaign. They have taken just a single point away from home against Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool this season, with that point coming thanks to a dramatic equaliser at Stamford Bridge.
Newcastle also have to be included in the same bracket at the moment. They sit seventh for home form, and will prove to be a fascinating test at the weekend.
United could end the next match day in third, but they could also finish it in fifth due to their inferior goal difference compared with top-four rivals Tottenham and Newcastle.
Failure to win this weekend will give Spurs a chance to overtake them when they face Everton on Monday night, while defeat at St. James' Park would see the hosts leapfrog them as well.
Even in the worst eventuality, they would be at least five points clear of the chasing pack and have two matches in hand over Tottenham, but it would certainly breathe fresh life into the fight for Champions League football.
United's own bid for a top-four finish has come via their consistency at a time when others struggled to find any, and heading into the final stretch of the season, the message will remain the same.
It would still take a sizeable collapse for United to drop out of the top-four, and they would also have to rely on their competitors to take advantage of such a slump.
However, with United still involved in the FA Cup and the Europa League while their rivals only have the Premier League to focus on, there is certainly a slight concern that it could happen.
This weekend's trip to the North East could truly set the tone for what lies ahead between now and the summer, and go on to help define the entire success of the season.
United's next match really is their most important.
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