Eddie Howe stated before the game he is only looking at signing "elite players" as he continues to plot Newcastle United's future.
A lot has changed in between Newcastle's last two trips to Villa Park in the 2021/22 campaign and the current 2022/23 season. Howe has replaced Steve Bruce in the dugout, Mike Ashley has been ousted and replaced by Amanda Staveley and wealthy Saudi-backers and the feeling of apathy at St James' Park has been replaced by healthy optimism.
That optimism was still rightly in place at the end of play on Saturday in the Premier League as Newcastle were handed a favour by AFC Bournemouth meaning the gap between themselves and Spurs is still in place. Even the best teams - ask Arsenal and Man City - suffer off days in the top-flight.
