If the script had it down as a perfect final audition for James Maddison at St James' Park, it is fair to say Dean Smith had other ideas. The interim Leicester City boss made the bold pre-match call of benching both Maddison and Harvey Barnes for the do-or-die showdown with Newcastle United, and was arguably rewarded with a point which could prove priceless come the final day.
Maddison was introduced at the interval following a half where the Foxes proved incapable of retaining possession. However, it was a case of more of the same as the playmaker had to showcase his work rate rather than his talents on the ball.
Leicester did not record their first shot on target till added time, and it was Maddison's delivery which forced Nick Pope to make a fine reaction save from Timothy Castagne's instinctive effort. Frustrating as it was, the stalemate was still job done for Eddie Howe's side with qualification for next season's Champions League secured.
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It could have been a comfortable victory on any other day for Newcastle, with the hosts denied by the woodwork three times and Callum Wilson having a header cleared off the line. However, it ultimately proved to be another instance of how Howe's side have often struggled to make the breakthrough against a low-block this term.
For example, Newcastle failed to score in three encounters with Crystal Palace, while Leeds United ground out a point with a dogged display on New Year's Eve. Bournemouth were also able to frustrate the Magpies in two draws.
These are obviously just a handful of displays from an otherwise stunning campaign. However, it is a scenario which Newcastle will face on a more regular basis going forward on the back on their top-four finish.
Rivals will no doubt afford Howe's side greater respect, and put the onus on the Magpies to break them down. Newcastle have regularly blown teams away through lightning starts and intensity out of possession, but a more subtle solution will be required in the challenges to come.
Maddison was not able to outline his credentials on Monday night, but a perfect candidate for the position for the very problem Newcastle faced was staring back at them. In a season which has been dogged by injury and will likely end in relegation, the 26-year-old has still managed to record 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League.
Newcastle's ongoing interest in Maddison remains apparent, with a recent report from i News outlining the playmaker remains a top target despite two failed bids last summer. Leicester's financial woes, combined with potential relegation and just one year left on his contract, means the playmaker must be viewed as an obvious solution.
United need a creative option in midfield, a number 10 in all but their actual position. With five years' experience for the Foxes and having excelled in a number of positions, Howe will be hard-pressed to find a more Premier League-proven option this summer.
Of course, transfers are never as simple as that. Leicester may attempt to drive a hard bargain despite the circumstances, and a player of Maddison's pedigree will undoubtedly attract interest from elsewhere.
Newcastle's links to Dominik Szoboszlai and the RB Leipzig star's own recent reticence to dismiss the transfer rumours suggest there are other contenders to fill the void. The 22-year-old with Champions League experience would certainly command a bigger fee, but it is a price Newcastle may now be willing to pay to land stars capable of growing with the project.
With a transfer summit on the horizon, plans will quickly take shape and the budget will dictate which areas of the squad Newcastle prioritise in the summer window. But in the midst of the jubilant celebrations at St James' Park, the Magpies were given a reminder of a familiar problem while facing an almost perfect solution.
