The last word...

ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate was sitting alongside Newcastle chief Amanda Staveley at St James’ Park on Tuesday night, officially to watch Kieran Trippier and Jordan Pickford.

But with Dan Ashworth heading for Tyneside, a former FA ally, I do wonder if there was a bit of discrete succession planning going on.

Southgate will be tempted by a move to club management one day, and building up Newcastle could be his best bet. But not for a year or so, if Eddie Howe keeps winning.