Newcastle United have been sent advanced Tottenham Hotspur warning but 'big game advantage' lies with hosts

If Newcastle need a spur to go on and claim three points against Champions League chasers Tottenham then just let them look at the league table to confirm their own European aspirations and remember the last visit of the cockerels to St James Park. United are still very much in the Euro mix after somehow clawing seven points from their last three matches despite being stripped bare of players while Spurs, quite frankly, took a smacking up here a year ago.

It was an embarrassment for them _ they were three goals down in 10 minutes and five behind after 20, eventually suffering the humiliation of a 6-1 scoreline. Big Ange is credited with changing much in north London since those times not least attitude and reverting to the Spurs way, ie attacking, but then Eddie Howe has taken the Steve Bruce break off United's play.

Of course the challenge will be immense because, whisper it, Tottenham are not missing Citizen Kane and have reeled in Aston Villa for that fourth spot United treasured so much last season... thanks in no small measure to the Magpies taking all six points off the Villans. Let that be the only favour we do our visitors.

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The danger Spurs represent is underlined by the fact that they have scored in every one of their last 43 Premier League matches except one which is a terrific record of attacking football. Having the likes of Son and James Maddison in-house is a huge help while another potent striker Richarlison may also be ready enough to return from injury in some shape or form.

A further warning is revealed by the unlikely fact that the Londoners have lost fewer away than at home _ three to four. They will be anxious to secure maximum points up here as a safeguard because they still have to play all the top three of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City before the end of the season.

However Spurs have an outstanding record against the front runners being unbeaten in their three matches so far drawing 2-2 at Arsenal, beating Liverpool 2-1 at home, and drawing 3-3 at Man City.

Geordies of course attach great importance to the fact that United seem to do better against the better teams having not only beaten Villa twice this season but Man U as well while turning over Manchester City, Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain into the bargain.

If our own are to harbour hopes of a maximum return then elite players like Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon must lead the parade. Let us hope too that Bruno's newly discovered self discipline continues for at least one more match to boost the pursuit of Europe. Interesting that somehow a combative midfielder has remained blemish free in his last 10 PL outings and if he can avoid a yellow card against Spurs he will also avoid a two match suspension for 10 bookings.

Looking beyond the immediate let Bruno take his power of mind into next season instead of picking up stupid bookings because he would then become an even more potent player. He has not lost his edge because of restrictions placed upon him, instead merely proved his depth of character when he needs to draw upon it.

Newcastle have enough problems with injuries piled up as high as Grey's Monument without also losing a second top performer to a rush of blood.

Gordon, banned twice already this season, escaped a third spell of inactivity when he managed to survive the match at Fulham without incurring the wrath of the referee. He is on eight yellows but as a consequence will reach the cut off stage of 32 PL games without making it into double figures. Let him sit down with Bruno in a quiet room somewhere and discover the power of the mind to eliminate the only obvious flaw in his game.

If we need a splash of fresh paint to support the tried and trusted then Howe ought to turn to Elliot Anderson and Harvey Barnes. Both possess quality, both have recently emerged from a long injury hibernation, and both come from quality football stock. Elliot is the grandson of Fairs Cup winner Geoff Allen while Harvey's dad Paul Barnes played striker for the likes of Notts County, Stoke, Birmingham, Burnley, and Huddersfield.

That Anderson and Barnes were left out at Fulham had to be down to the physical demands of too many games in a week after such idleness but they came on at Craven Cottage to produce enough of a significant contribution coupled with what had just gone before to demand a starting peg. Bring them on, I say, for Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy.

It looked as though Elliot was in for a sensational breakthrough campaign after his pre-season exploits only for him to get badly injured which unexpectedly led to another academy graduate Lewis Miley coming in to excel...until he got himself hurt which has in turn seen Anderson re-emerge. Typical of United's crazy season is it not? One in and one out.

As with Newcastle's last home game an early kick off will mean John Anderson and myself appearing at the Tyneside Irish Club not pre-match but within half an hour of the final whistle to talk through the game. Last time it was an uproarious atmosphere after a 1-3 deficit against West Ham turned into a sensational 4-3 triumph. May we all bask in such elation once again.