It is the start of a 10-day period that can define this season for Newcastle United as early as it is. First of all starting on Sunday the Magpies must face Manchester City, the best side in the Premier League and probably in Europe.
After that it is three successive away matches - at Tranmere in the league cup on Wednesday, at Wolves that weekend, and at Liverpool the following midweek. That is potentially an awesome run of games topped and tailed by Man City and Liverpool.
United cannot afford to lose too often and that includes in the cup because being knocked out by a League Two side would badly damage morale and confidence before going on to Wolverhampton. Especially if Man City have tucked up United as well. In any case Newcastle are long overdue a run in a domestic cup competition. To heck with a run, how about going to Wembley and winning? Why not?
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These four matches are going to be a severe test of team selection (trying to spread the load) and each individual. None more so than Allan Saint-Maximin and Miggy Almiron given that every game that passes without impact is a lost opportunity to make a statement.
They need to put down a marker too because United are actively trying to sign a winger before the transfer window closes. A glance at the match stats of ASM and Almiron in terms of assists and goals tells you why. Callum Wilson desperately needs support and he is not getting it. Top strikers require a supply chain of ammunition to do their job and United are rendering Wilson impotent.
Goals are a real problem. The two against Nottingham Forest were worldies when it had looked as though Newcastle would never score and they came up with a blank sheet at Brighton. Each player barring the goalkeeper ought to have a goals target before the season starts, either set by the manager or by himself. There is a responsibility on every pair of shoulders to score at some time during a league campaign. I firmly believe that. It is not down to Callum Wilson alone.
We all know that Man City will be the ultimate test. They are some side, probably without a weakness, and they have flown out of the traps. If they beat United - and they are capable of beating anyone - then Tranmere takes on even greater significance. The cup tie has to be settled on the night and Eddie Howe will probably bring in some fresh senior players, but he has to get it right and those coming in have to justify their opportunity.
What with the immediate run of games and the transfer window about to close it is not too far fetched to say this is a make or break period for United. They have done so well to right so many wrongs since the takeover but football is no consoler. It is demanding and exposes the slightest weakness which is why we will all be holding out breath over the next 10 days or so.
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