Newcastle United's walking wounded have burning need…

Newcastle United's walking wounded have burning need to redress Premier League imbalance

Not many thought Fulham, who endure more ups and downs than a pogo stick, would be sixth top of the Premier League three points ahead of the so-called richest club in the world.

But there we are. It is true - the Cottagers are at No 6 compared to Newcastle at No 10 having three wins against one and 12 goals to eight for us. Can you believe it? Three victories and two draws from their opening seven games and unbeaten at home.

That is why football is such an unpredictable, exciting, crazy game adored by millions the world over. Except that United will want to redress the balance double quick this Saturday afternoon. I mean, we can't be having that!

Fulham normally come up with all guns blazing and return immediately to soccer's hinterland with nought but a passing whimper. Sure Newcastle are engulfed in maybes and oh dears - I'm talking about injuries rather than results - but there is still a burning need to improve their win column a bit sharpish come whatever.

It will be difficult all right. While we wonder if United will have a centre-forward at all we must be wary of theirs, an old Toon hammer thrower who is in explosive form. Alexander Isak appears to be a goner - a real £60m blow - with Chris Wood nursing a rib injury which is always tricky and if there is hope of Callum Wilson returning once again it is always accompanied by an anxious look and a need to protect him.

Funny, is it not, that in the land of No 9 Legends the Magpies either cannot find an effective one or if they do keep him fit and firing. They always seem to be scraping around desperately trying to fill a void.

On the other side of the pitch Aleksandar Mitrovic has continued to burn like a raging fire. He notched a hat-trick as Serbia thrashed Sweden 4-1 in Belgrade to make it 49 goals in 75 appearances for his national side taking his season tally to nine from eight games in all competitions. It will certainly require a concentrated effort by Nick Pope and his helpers because there is no doubt Mitro would love to put United to the sword.

Newcastle fans have endured a reality check with home stalemates against a couple of the division's more mediocre sides Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Certainly a fortnight without a game is a long time to dwell on such disappointments. Especially when injuries continue to pile up and further confuse the picture.

This of course is the SuperMac derby, a match between the club Malcolm Macdonald supported as a kid born in the shadow of Craven Cottage who went on to play for and manage Fulham in between becoming a Newcastle legend. It is also the Bobby Robson derby, the Lee Clark derby, and the Kevin Keegan derby. Less well known is the fact that two other United legends Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole also played for both clubs.

However enough of history. It is about now not then and now is about Bruno and Trippier, Pope and Joelinton, Wilson and Targett. Yet it is also very much the domain of Mitrovic proving that, despite history being yesteryear, it is still about footballers who played for both. Though we sincerely hope it proves in the end not to be about Mitro but current Magpies.

Including those we hope to see in Geordie garb but are currently in doubt to varying degrees. How many from Bruno, Maxi, Isak, Canny Callum, young Elliot Anderson, and Wood will walk upon Craven Cottage turf? The outcome of the match may depend on the numbers.

Six, five, four, three, two, one? We certainly will not have the lot on parade. Nothing like it probably. It's countdown time as United try to avoid the recent past catching up with them after too many points being dropped through a pile of draws.

Newcastle United's walking wounded have burning need to redress Premier League imbalance

READ NEXT