The 2019-20 campaign could prove to be a seminal one in the history of Newcastle United, with a long-awaited takeover of the club rumoured to be close.
Fans will no doubt be delighted to see the back of unpopular owner Mike Ashley, and matters on the pitch have also gone better than many of them would have expected so far this term.
The decision to let Rafael Benitez leave and to appoint former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was not very well received by the Magpies' fanbase, yet Newcastle currently sit four points better off than at the same stage of last season and find themselves only five points off the magic 40-point mark for safety.
Bruce's side could therefore be only two wins away from guaranteeing another season in the top flight, and here Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at their remaining nine games to see where they might come from.
© ReutersThe order in which Newcastle's remaining matches may take place is one of a number of aspects still up in the air due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they had been scheduled to face Sheffield United next up before play was stopped.
The Blades have been in fine form this season and are pushing hard for a European spot in their maiden campaign back in the top flight, but they are a team that Newcastle have a good record against.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey were on the scoresheet in a 2-0 Magpies win in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane in December, one of four successive Newcastle victories in the fixture stretching back to 2006.
Sheffield United are one of four top-eight teams Newcastle still have left to face, including games against both of the top two Manchester City and Liverpool.
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The game against Liverpool was originally scheduled to be the final match of the season, by which point the Reds are almost guaranteed to have already won the title, and if that remains the case then it may be their trip to the Etihad which proves to be their toughest remaining fixture, despite a torrid run of form against Jurgen Klopp's side.
Newcastle's record against Man City has been better in the very recent history - a win and a draw in the past two meetings - but prior to that they had lost 20 and won just one of their previous 24 games against City across all competitions.
Indeed, the Magpies have never won a league game at the Etihad Stadium, with their last such victory away to Man City coming at Maine Road in September 2000. Worryingly for Bruce, his side are scheduled to meet Pep Guardiola and co in the FA Cup too.
Tottenham Hotspur are also still to come, although that match will be at St James' Park and they won the reverse fixture in North London so will welcome Jose Mourinho's side with plenty of confidence.
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There is more good news in that the other five opponents are all currently in the bottom six of the table, so the chances of Newcastle getting the two wins they need to secure survival look very strong.
Aston Villa are still to visit St James' Park and they have one of the worst away records in the Premier League this season, while Newcastle will also host a West Ham United side that has lost all six of their away games since Christmas.
The remaining away trips include visiting Bournemouth, Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion, and the overall average position of their away opponents is 13th - incidentally the position Newcastle themselves currently occupy.
The equivalent for their home games is slightly higher - around 10th - and overall the average placing of their remaining opponents is between 11th and 12th.
Newcastle's remaining Premier League fixtures
Sheffield United (h)
Aston Villa (h)
Bournemouth a)
West Ham (h)
Man City (a)
Watford (a)
Tottenham (h)
Brighton (a)
Liverpool (h)
