Magpies having a real influence on who wins the Premier League

UNITED MAY HAVE BEEN BATTLING THE DROP BUT THEY HAVE ALSO HAD A SAY AT THE TOP

WE have been concentrating too much on looking down to give but a cursory glance at what’s happening at the summit.

Oh, we know Manchester City and Liverpool are locked in a titanic battle for the title but is it generally realised Newcastle are having a major say as to where this country’s biggest bauble will end up?

For a start, Liverpool are only in the reckoning because the Mags deprived champions City of what they thought would be an automatic three points at SJP when sensationally turning them over 2-1.

United were further generous to the Reds, of course, going to Anfield on Boxing

Day and suffering their biggest defeat of the season 4-0.

If City had not lost at SJP - unbelievably their only defeat in between 18 consecutive victories in all competitions and had

United not capitulated at Anfield so completely the champions would be home and hosed by now.

So we come to the end of the campaign . . . when United play their last home match against Liverpool on May 4! The destination of those three points one way or the other could yet determine everything - and Jurgen Klopp be warned, United normally say goodbye to their loyal fans when in the Premier League with an outstanding performance against the great and the good.

Last year they defeated Chelsea 3-0 and two seasons before that destroyed Spurs 5-1. Both times under the tutorship of Rafa Benitez. It is going to be some finale. Let’s hope United themselves are safe well before the Reds roll into town for our going away party. Meanwhile, all Geordies continue to speculate about what happens once United secure their status and 2018-19 is put to bed.

We all know how strikers are treasured among Newcastle’s faithful.

The No 9 legend is the golden thread which runs through the club’s history. So it is with great curiosity we contemplate who will wear the famed shirt next season at the same time as we worry about Benitez.

Will it be Salomon Rondon or AN Other, say one-time Magpie centre-forward Andy Carroll who has been touted in quite a few quarters for a return to his birthplace.

I have a feeling it could easily be neither. Sadly, in the case of Rondon.

Why so? Well, take a glance at their birth certificates for the most obvious of clues. Carroll is already 30 and Rondon will be come September, which is only a month or so into the new campaign.

That is an age which acts as a curse to Mike Ashley. No shelf life, no sell-on profit, therefore no go.

Think of it - United could have signed Rondon permanently last summer for the release clause of £16m and Ashley already had the money having unloaded Aleksandar Mitrovic for £20m-plus but he wouldn’t sanction the deal.

Why? Because Rondon was awaiting his 29th birthday.

Now he is a year older and the fee will be hiked up to above £20m if West Brom are promoted to the top flight.

Instead of coughing up more than a token loan sum, Ashley trousered the Mitro cash and kept it safe until Miguel Almiron came along at the much more acceptable age of 24.

His best years still very much in front of him and therefore a sale to a Champions League club very much a possibility.

Much to his delight. Ashley secured a massive profit on Carroll of course. Carroll had joined United for nought as a young whippersnapper and so to sell him on to Liverpool for a whopping (and ridiculous) £35m was so wonderful Newcastle’s owner made his own helicopter available to make certain the big Geordie got to Merseyside in time.

Bringing Carroll back now simply will not appeal to Ashley for financial reasons - even on a free transfer.

It does not appeal to me for footballing reasons.

How would Ashley make sense of recruiting a 30-year-old whose contract has been allowed to expire at West Ham because it would have cost them £90,000-a-week to renew it.

As for me, why would I want Newcastle to sign a player who has such a history of chronic injuries his appearances are as regular as snow in the Sahara and his goal power is such he has scored in only two league matches since April 1, 2017.

Surely there has to be a better option. Actually there is - Rondon. Though don’t hold your breath.

For the sake of clarity let me say Carroll served United well from being a bairn. His overall record shows 60 first-team appearances plus another 31 as sub and 33 goals.

However he is yesterday’s news I am afraid. Time waits for no man especially footballers.