JOHN GIBSON City leading the way in sport’s welcome return

IT’S GOOD TO SEE ACTION NOW ALL WE WANT IS YES TO BUYOUT

NEWCASTLE is set to become a ground-breaking city – the focus of a nation desperate to resume sporting normality or the nearest we can get to it in these appalling times.

However, it is our racecourse at Gosforth Park where intense interest will initially be concentrated – not down the road at the cathedral on the hill.

Britain’s first major professional sports event – the national return of horse racing – will be staged by us on Monday after 11 crippling, barren weeks.

Three weeks later, a corner kick away at St James’ Park, Newcastle United will follow suit and perform competitively behind closed doors.

Over the weekend starting Saturday June 20, Sheffield United will arrive for the full unveiling of the Premier League climax to a stuttering season.

A month later, European Tour golf also resumes in our neck of the woods, the British Masters starting on July 22 at Close House, out to the west of Newcastle.

Thus this grand city of ours will become a beacon to the resumption of sporting life and aren’t we relieved.

Even if it is a sanitised version of the real thing.

Such is the excitement at horse racing returning a staggering 369 entries were originally lodged for a 10-race card where runners will be limited to 12 per charge. There has been no racing since a jumps fixture at Wetherby on March 17, no top football since March 13. However, racing was always going to beat football to the start line because one is a contact sport and the

Newcastle Racecourse, pictured here as Who Dares Wins takes victory in last year’s Northumberland Plate, will host Britain’s first race meeting since sport was cancelled due to the coronavirus

other is not. An accusing finger had been pointed at racing’s blue riband meeting the Cheltenham Festival going ahead as the coronavirus pandemic engulfed us in March, putting thousands at severe risk because of the phenomenal size of the crowds – but a return comes at a course locked down.

As jockeys and their mounts head to the north of the city we would like to know if the Reuben brothers, who own Gosforth Park, are also to be allowed to include NUFC in their considerable portfolio – though that

remains up to the Premier League who rather than resemble the road runner appear more like a dithering tortoise.

What happens here is as clear as mud. So let us concentrate for the moment on live events.

United along with their PL cousins are moving relentlessly towards copying their Bundesliga brethren.

Already back in isolated groups, player involvement was significantly stepped up this week with full contact training now allowed.

Perhaps by coincidence rather than design, Newcastle’s return to combat duty will work to their advantage because Sheffield United have to play their game in hand on Wednesday, June 17 – only a few days before coming here – which will severely test their fitness after such a long lay off.

They are on their travels then, too, scheduled to visit Aston Villa.

These are unique times for everyone but especially United and their head coach Steve Bruce (inset) who is working in total darkness, still for Mike Ashley but with the Saudis hovering ominously in the shadows.

Much has been made of a good guy who also happens to be a Geordie and Newcastle supporter as a kid deserving an opportunity to perform for a new owner with ambition and financial clout – but then football is a ruthless business which does not do being kind.

New owners inevitably want their own men. Did Ossie Ardiles deserve more at Newcastle when John Hall took over? Did Sam Allardyce when Ashley moved his tanks into SJP?

If football was all about nice guys being the successful ones then only the likes of Bob Paisley and Bobby Robson would have walked among us. If being confrontational and often stroppy ruled people out then we would never have had the genius of Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson.

Brucey is a nice, nice fella but his days are numbered if the takeover at long last goes through. It is the way of the world.

Who gets his hot seat? Which players are signed? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Let the PL find time to make their decision first. All depends on it.