Newcastle United will be coming up against the Premier League's most in-form player in Jarrod Bowen this weekend.
The West Ham attacker scored yet again in the 2-2 draw at Leicester City on Sunday to stretch his streak to seven goals in his last seven appearances.
Liverpool forward Mo Salah is the only player to register more top-flight goals and assists this season than Bowen, and the Reds are reportedly considering a summer move for the 25-year-old.
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Eddie Howe's side will be hoping to make it four wins on the bounce when they travel to the London Stadium on Saturday, having lost on the opening day to the Hammers.
Much has changed already on Tyneside since the takeover was finally approved last October, but it was a little over two years ago when Newcastle were in the hunt for Bowen's signature.
The winger had already scored 16 goals in the Championship for Hull City by the halfway point of the season, and had snubbed an offer to extend his contract amid Premier League interest.
Former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce was known to be an admirer, having signed Bowen from Hereford United in 2014 during his time with the Tigers.
There were fears the nature of Bruce's departure from Hull would lead to his former club inflating the price tag should the Magpies have come calling.
In the end, though, it was West Ham who hijacked Crystal Palace's efforts and sealed a deadline-day deal worth in excess of £20m in January 2020.
Newcastle club insiders at the time did not believe Bowen would immediately strengthen Bruce's starting eleven, backing Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin despite the team's struggles in front of goal at the time.
United were unsuccessful in their own deadline-day swoop for future Leicester midfielder Boubakary Soumare, but would go on to invest in the summer in the likes of Jamal Lewis and Callum Wilson.
This reluctance to invest in squad depth was a characteristic of the Mike Ashley era which left Bruce frustrated on several occasions when it came to transfer windows.
It is also a characteristic which Newcastle's new owners have already proven they do not share, judging by their January pursuit of Hugo Ekitike.
Stade de Reims' teenage forward turned down a deadline-day move to St James' Park, with concerns over playing time among the factors listed behind the decision.
January signings Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, and Chris Wood have come straight into the starting eleven, while Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes have been made to wait for their full debuts.
Newcastle were the biggest spenders in Europe in the mid-season window, but Howe has stressed the five arrivals have come to add a 'real competition for places' rather than be assured as automatic starters.
Outlining this stance, the head coach recently told NUFC TV: "I believe in rewarding players who perform well. I'm not someone who openly wants to change the team for changes' sake.
"Players also have to earn their place in the team, and I'm not just going to give them that. So the players that come in have added a real competition for places, that's a massive thing for us and I'm delighted with that."
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Wilson's goals have proven invaluable in the last two seasons, but that will not stop Newcastle fans rueing the reasons why the club opted against a move for Bowen earlier that year.
However, the signs so far suggest it is a decision that would not be repeated under the club's new owners.
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