Welcome to our Newcastle United live blog for Saturday, July 4.
The Magpies thrashed Bournemouth 4-1 on Wednesday as they surpassed the 40 point mark needed to assure Premier League survival.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters answered questions on Tuesday regarding the the Saudi-led takeover bid that entered owners and directors test 12 weeks ago.
Our understanding was that hopes are high for the would-be buyers but there was no breakthrough last week and Steve Bruce and Alan Shearer both called for "clarity" on Sunday.
Follow live updates below or get the latest NUFC news and takeover updates straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
Newcastle United takeover is done
Signing off
That's all from us for today. I'll leave you with the day's most read:
- Revealed: The behind-the-scenes Newcastle United takeover movements
- The trio of Newcastle United buys being discussed at St James' Park ahead of uncertain summer window
- Newcastle United scheduled to have behind the scenes meetings next week despite takeover uncertainty
- The numbers that show Allan Saint-Maximin has returned as Newcastle United's main man
- 'Don't know how many times I've fined him' - Allan Saint-Maximin's amusing habit at Newcastle United
- Newcastle United scheduled to have behind the scenes meetings next week despite takeover uncertainty
- Could there be a French twist to the Newcastle United takeover saga?
- Old-school defensive duo the unheralded stars of Newcastle's return to form
100 up for Vardy
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy scored his 100th Premier League goal on Saturday by netting his side's second against Crystal Palace.
Here, are the other 28 men to reach the landmark.
1 Alan Shearer 260 (Blackburn, Newcastle)
2 Wayne Rooney 208 (Everton, Manchester United)
3 Andy Cole 187 (Newcastle, Manchester United, Blackburn, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth)
4 Sergio Aguero 180* (Manchester City)
5 Frank Lampard 177 (West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City)
6 Thierry Henry 175 (Arsenal)
7 Robbie Fowler 163 (Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester City)
8 Jermain Defoe 162 (West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bournemouth)
9 Michael Owen 150 (Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, Stoke)
10 Les Ferdinand 149 (QPR, Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester, Bolton)
11 Teddy Sheringham 146 (Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham)
12 Robin Van Persie 144 (Arsenal, Manchester United)
13 Harry Kane 138* (Tottenham)
14 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 127 (Leeds, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Charlton)
15 Robbie Keane 126 (Coventry, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa)
16 Nicolas Anelka 125 (Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton, Chelsea, West Brom)
17 Dwight Yorke 123 (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn, Birmingham, Sunderland)
18 Steven Gerrard 120 (Liverpool)
19= Ian Wright 113 (Arsenal, West Ham)
19= Romelu Lukaku 113 (West Brom, Everton, Manchester United)
21 Dion Dublin 111 (Manchester United, Coventry, Aston Villa)
22 Emile Heskey 110 (Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan, Aston Villa)
23 Ryan Giggs 109 (Manchester United)
24 Peter Crouch 108 (Aston Villa, Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Tottenham, Stoke)
25 Paul Scholes 107 (Manchester United)
26 Darren Bent 106 (Ipswich, Charlton, Tottenham, Sunderland, Aston Villa, Fulham)
27 Didier Drogba 104 (Chelsea)
28 Matt Le Tissier 100 (Southampton)
(* = active Premier League player)
Waddle on Carroll
Newcastle United legend Chris Waddle believes former number nine Andy Carroll can still prove to be a 'big asset' for the Magpies.
PSG linked with ASM
The Daily Mail report that French giants Paris St-Germain are monitoring Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin.
The winger has been in excellent form in recent weeks, and is reportedly attracting attention.
They claim PSG and Tottenham are weighing up a move.
Bournemouth lead
A surprise at Old Trafford as Bournemouth take the lead against Manchester United thanks to Junior Stanilas's goal.
McKennie latest
With Newcastle and Everton linked to Schalke's Weston McKennie, the Toffees could use Jonjoe Kenny to help them land the US international.
Kenny enjoyed a successful campaign on loan at Schalke this past season and reports suggest the German side would be interested in making the move permanent.
McKennie has been valued at around £22.5m.
Leicester vs Palace teams
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Leicester: Schmeichel, Justin, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Perez Tielemans, Ndidi, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Vardy. Subs: Morgan Gray, Ward, Barnes, Choudhury, Mendy, Praet, Fuchs, Bennett.
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Sakho, van Aanholt, Ayew McArthur, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Zaha, Benteke. Subs: Dann Meyer, Kouyate, Townsend, Hennessey, McCarthy, Woods, Mitchell Pierrick.
Referee: Jonathan Moss (County Durham)
Man U vs Bournemouth
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named an unchanged side as struggling Bournemouth arrived at Old Trafford.
Speculation over the fitness of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba proved unfounded as the pair started this afternoon.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe made three changes from the side humbled 4-1 by Newcastle on Wednesday, with Diego Rico, Junior Stanislas and Lewis Cook brought in.
Man Utd: de Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Pogba Matic, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Mata, Andreas Pereira, Fred, James, Romero, Ighalo McTominay, Williams.
AFC Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Smith, Ake, Kelly, Rico, Brooks Lewis Cook, Lerma, Stanislas, King, Solanke.
Subs: Boruc Gosling, Surman, Danjuma, Stacey, Harry Wilson, Billing Travers, Surridge.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
No regrets
Mark Gillespie admits it was a "massive" blow to be released by Newcastle United as a teenager but insists it is a "dream" to be back at his boyhood club.
Gillespie told NUFC TV: "I joined the club as an eight-year-old, worked my way through the age groups and really enjoyed it.
"I loved it here, and when you want to make that step up into full-time football, to get the blow then was massively disappointing.
"But luckily Carlisle picked me up, and I've gone on a different path. I've gone away and worked really hard. Obviously, I never thought I'd be back, but I got out, played games and it shows you anything can happen in football.
"I'm delighted to be here."
Injury latest
Newcastle could be without three players when they face West Ham tomorrow.
Sean Longstaff is likely to miss the game with the hamstring injury picked up at Bournemouth, while skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton both have knocks.
ASM stats
He really has become NUFC's key man.
Did it all start back at West Ham earlier this season?
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho has reportedly agreed terms over a five-year deal to join Manchester United this summer.
The 20-year-old has agreed a deal to join Man United on £140,000 per week, which will rise to £200,000 over the course of his deal, claims The Transfer Window podcast.
But the report adds that Man United and Borussia Dortmund are currently far apart in terms of their respective valuations of the England winger.
David Moyes
David Moyes admits he cannot begin planning for next season until West Ham have secured their Premier League survival.
The Hammers put some much-needed daylight between themselves and the drop zone with a dramatic 3-2 win over Chelsea in midweek.
But any transfer plans remain on hold as they continue their battle to avoid relegation, with a trip to in-form Newcastle next up.
"I'd love to say I was looking forward completely, but I'm not taking my eye off the ball and I'm only looking at the next game," said Hammers boss Moyes.
"I can't think any further than how we can pick up the points and win the next two or three games, and then maybe it will give me a chance to look.
"To be honest I'm not sure we even know when next season is starting, we don't have confirmation of the date yet.
"So from my point of view the big thing is to focus on what we can do at the moment and make sure we are a Premier League club.
"We need to build on the performance we had against Chelsea, which was a really top performance by the players.
"If we are capable of beating Chelsea we are capable of having a go against most teams. That's the way I look at it so we will hopefully try and do that."
Mark Gillespie
Newcaste's new goalkeeper Mark Gillespie has had a long route back to St James' Park.
Mark Carruthers spoke to two former Blyth Spartans team-mates to get the lowdown on the NUFC new boy.
Pick your NUFC XI
With Sean Longstaff likely to be ruled out and injury doubts over Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton, which NUFC XI would you pick tomorrow?
Early game team news
Norwich vs Brighton is today's 12.30pm KO, here are the teams:
Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Godfrey, Klose, Lewis, Tettey, McLean, Duda, Buendia, Hernandez, Drmic.
Brighton: Ryan, Lamptey, Dunk, Webster, Burn, Trossard, Bissouma, Mooy, Propper, Maupay, Connolly.
Charlie Nicholas prediction
The Soccer Saturday pundit has had his say on tomorrow's match.
Things are starting to turn again with West Ham. They showed tremendous character and their response to the VAR howler was great. They scored goals. Mark Noble has often been at the centre of this but he was not on the pitch.
Tomas Soucek has done well since he has come into the fold but Andriy Yarmolenko has the pace and movement that causes problems. West Ham have missed him. Michail Antonio is their best option up front though - he has pace, power, great enthusiasm, and people who can support from midfield too. All of a sudden things are changing.
Newcastle are playing with freedom and a smile on their faces - they are looking dangerous too. Until things calm down, they could and should offer Steve Bruce another contract. Andy Carroll could start against his former club. Joelinton continues to struggle despite getting his goal the other week, while Jonjo Shelvey played well and Miguel Almiron contributed off the bench too.
A bit of fight in West Ham might cause Newcastle problems though, as it did against Chelsea. West Ham may have started to believe that they are not a bad side once they get going. They just need to get better defensively, but their grit and determination will get them over the line in this one.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Valentino Lazaro
The NUFC loanee has been speaking the club website this morning.
"I wanted to show that I can help the team. I wasn't really happy with the time that I was given before.
"I felt that I deserved more, but at the end of the day it's always the manager's decision and we were 3-0 up and playing well, so he did a good job too.
"I just wanted to show myself basically and integrate myself into the team."
Bruce's message to the critics
Steve Bruce believes that Newcastle United's critics underestimated the dressing room spirit at the club 12 months ago.
With six games to go, United's first aim for the season - to secure top-flight safety - has been comfortably achieved and the chance to push on for the top 10 or the more difficult prospect of a Europa League place (seventh or possibly eighth) is now in front of Bruce's team.
Bruce told the Chronicle: "A lot of people wrote us off. They wrote me off and they wrote my staff off.
"More importantly they wrote the players off.
"And I think all credit to those behind me, my staff and the players, the first part of the job is accomplished."
Dummett's welcome back message
There's still one player here from Mark Gillespie's first spell at NUFC . . .
Bruce vow
Steve Bruce will not allow Newcastle to coast to the Premier League finishing line after guiding them to safety with weeks to spare.
The Magpies' 4-1 win at Bournemouth on Wednesday evening took them through the 40-point barrier and left them looking upwards rather than over their shoulders for what remains of the campaign.
However, head coach Bruce is in no mood to rest on his laurels with 18 more points still to play for.
He said: "We've achieved the first goal. A lot of people wrote the team and myself off in the first few weeks. I'm delighted for everybody we're a Premier League team again, and that was the first job to be done.
"Now we've given ourselves the platform to see if we can mount a challenge and get in the top 10. If we can, that would be hugely satisfying.
"My job is to keep them focused on it. We've only got two or three weeks to the finish and we've got some big games coming up against some big teams. It's still all to play for.
"The challenge for all of us is to make sure we keep the focus like we had the other day. Let's enjoy the next few weeks and see where they take us."
Joey Barton
Former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton says he Fleetwood side should not be written off yet after a 4-1 League One play-off semi-final first-leg defeat at home to Wycombe,
Fleetwood ended the game with nine men on an awful night for the hosts, and now the Chairboys will be firm favourites to progress to the Wembley final.
Barton said: "We'll be ready on Monday night and we'll win at Wycombe.
"I don't know whether it'll be by enough to get us to Wembley but we'll be giving it everything.
"They are a good side, they showed that tonight.
"They're going to be difficult to break down, but we'll go there with belief and confidence.
"We'll give it everything we've got there, and if we come up short, we come up short.
"Don't forget we've still finished in the play-off positions.
"We finished above teams like Sunderland, Ipswich, some big, big clubs.
"We've earned this opportunity.
"We didn't maximise that tonight but we are still alive in this tie and while there's a fight to be had, we'll give it everything we've got."
