Magpies' top brass and deliver results

It means the powers that be must have as big a blinder this summer as Eddie and the team had through a gruelling autumn, winter and spring.

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The transfer door has already temporarily swung open for business. It did so on Sunday, earlier than usual, to accommodate those playing in world club football but will shut almost immediately on Tuesday, June 10 at 7pm then reopen once more on Monday, June 16 and run until Monday, September 1 at 7pm.

Opportunity knocks. Twice actually.

Eddie Howe has implored his paymasters to come out of the blocks like Usain Bolt and as a consequence the rumour mill - in the shape of social media these days - has gone into overdrive.

United have scouted and made firm moves for enough footballers here and abroad to fill St James’ Park twice over if you believe all.

That's fine. It’s harmless fun and wiles away the long period of inactivity on the football field.

However, for those holding the purse strings each day goes by like a ticking time bomb.

Howe himself has lit the fuse being so frustrated by three successive windows where United took on the mantle of Scrooge with a hole in his pocket staring in Harrods window.