Three games to make or break Newcastle United's season fraught with difficulties

It's the countdown. Seven days, three games, two away, one goal. Europe. Goodbye to SJP for another season. Three points required, desperately, and why not? It means more to Newcastle than to Brighton who are effectively residing in the land of comfort.

United have endured a season fraught with trials and tribulations but have emerged somewhere near their very best having won five and drawn one of their last seven matches. However the next three games will either make or break them. This is their last chance to take advantage of home comforts and it must not be squandered. United have the firepower across the field, the ability to score at least one more goal than the opposition and probably more.

Come on Big Joe and Little Miggy having fleetingly walked among us join the last stand full time this coming week for the big push. Let the Pope bring his considerable presence to the cause. And any chance Tripps of adding more weight to the battlefield before it is too late?

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All hands are more than welcome on the tiller. Callum Wilson has given us a real extra dimension. Follow his example. Eddie Howe has always maintained that Wilson is a positive guy and he must be to believe he can force his way into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the Euros this summer at this late stage despite his fitness record but, hey, it is great for United because the only way he will have a chance is by scoring in the last three PL matches.

He obviously intends to give it a big shout having notched two goals in a game and a third on the comeback trail. Certainly the Callum PR machine has gone into overdrive. Sky Television gave him a huge segment pushing his case and Jermain Defoe was the leader of the pack. Defoe is not just a former Sunderland striker but a Tottenham one too who was good enough to win 57 England caps. He worked with Wilson at Bournemouth and would take him this summer. So go on, my son, give it a whirl starting against Brighton. It will do us good as well as you.

However while United want as many as possible back it must be said that those who have filled in during the absence of others have done so brilliantly. Take Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, kids bought last summer when not a dire necessity but proving that foresight is a genuine asset. They can play without us worrying. Elliot Anderson has given more than cover and so has Jacob Murphy. All have proved football is a squad game not exclusively about eleven. Without them we probably wouldn't be in a position to strike for home.

Brighton arrive having steadied alarming results which produced no wins in six attempts by beating Aston Villa 1-0 last weekend when they were looking to cement Champions League football but then United beat the Villans home and away so why should one result worry us? They have a decent manager and players but can flatter to deceive as well as sometimes rising to the occasion. It is up to United to determine which it is.

John Anderson and I will be making our last appearance of the season at the Tyneside Irish Centre pre-match around 1pm to look at the game and what this campaign has produced. I walk with great optimism to what I believe will be a golden goodbye.