Saturday saw Newcastle end their pre-season programme on a high note, scoring three times without reply in front of over 20,000 fans at SJP.

Much had been made of the fact that United were the only top-flight side yet to make any acquisitions in this window, but some familiar faces were to the fore. 

No less than nine of the players involved for the hosts here featured when City were last on Tyneside in 2020 - six of them facing the Canaries here on that epic night back in 2016, including both today's scorers Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle.

An instantly forgettable opening half was notable chiefly for a couple of rain showers and some inept attempts at playing out of defence by the Newcastle back line - Emil Krafth in particular looking uncomfortable in possession.

Starting his fourth successive game, 'keeper Freddie Woodman was equal to a fierce volley from Pierre Lees-Melou on 12 minutes, while old boy Tim Krul reacted angrily to an aerial challenge by home debutant Callum Wilson.

Wilson stayed at home to train while his colleagues were in friendly action at Burnley on Tuesday and successfully completed over an hour here, although being careful at times to keep himself intact.

That was one major boost to Steve Bruce ahead of next weekend's season-opener at home to West Ham and another came in the shape of half time arrival Allan Saint-Maximin.

The mercurial Frenchman had sat out the previous three games due to an unspecified illness, but his appearance here instantly lifted the crowd and would soon inspire his team mates to good effect. ASM later took to social media in praise of the adulation that came his way.

A moribund opening 45 minutes was forgotten as he and Jonjo Shelvey immediately put United on the front foot and raised the tempo and noise levels accordingly. 

And within 10 minutes they were ahead, Ritchie's shot from outside the box ballooning up into the air and Wilson occupying a defender as it dropped for Ritchie to race forward and prod the ball into the Gallowgate End goal. 

A stylish second goal then arrived after Ryan Fraser found Gayle and a first-time finish with the outside of his right foot dipped beyond Krul.

Newcastle's most emphatic pre-season home victory since 2007 was then rounded off in the 88th minute, when Gayle volleyed Javier Manquillo's right wing centre in from close range.

A grand day out then for what seemed to be legions of young fans making their SJP debut, in what was the largest single gathering of Toon followers since February 2020 when Burnley visited Gallowgate. Despite the general cynicism amongst more senior watchers, that's a significant amount of birthday treats and other promises that had been outstanding.  

The margin of this victory over another does have to be seen in the context of Norwich having just dealt with a COVID outbreak that disrupted their pre-season plans and saw seven senior players absent here (plus two more missing due to injury).

While the make-up of the starting XI for next weekend is still anything but confirmed, the return of Wilson and Saint-Maximin was a welcome boost. It's always nice to see a tangible (and timely) reminder of that old terrace song, "Dwight Gayle will always score goals."

We may be hamstrung by a lack of transfer activity, but it nothing else, those currently bearing the goalscoring burden are at least starting the season fit. Keeping them that way remains paramount.
 

A winning SJP debut for 5 year-old Robbie
Davies, pictured here with proud dad, Rob

Biffa