Newcastle United star fires back at doubters & £63m concern for Manchester United and Chelsea

This one was four, going on eight or nine. Newcastle United, when in this form, make winning in the Premier League seem very, very easy.

Goals from Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak ensured the Magpies kept their quest for a European finish on course.

Here’s the FIVE key talking points from the encounter.

Tactical tweaks? Becoming the NUFC norm

It's become something we're accustomed to in recent times, but Eddie Howe loves a tactical tweak.

The 4-2-3-1, which looked like a 4-4-2 at times, allowed both Wilson and Isak to come into the side - and it's fair to say after 20 minutes, I was unsure if it was working.

However, as they so often do, the Magpies blitzed the opposition in ruthless fashion in 20 first half minutes.

And as soon as the Magpies edged in front, the system looked perfect, as they broke on the hosts at will. Another feather in the cap for the United head coach.

Day for the full-backs

They haven't much been called upon, there's even been times when they haven't been called upon at all - much to the frustration of some.

But today was their day - both Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall both showed real quality on the Newcastle right and left.

Livramento's energy and solid one-on-one defending cut Jacob Murphy free down the right and kept things calm and solid for makeshift central defender Emil Krafth inside him.

Hall kept dropping into the midfield and, once he got to grips with his defensive duties, looked a real asset with the ball at feet. His bursting runs down the left made it a double threat for the Clarets.

Hungry Wilson - goals are just what he does!

We just knew it didn't we? Just when people start to write him off, Callum Wilson comes back determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Two in two - and it could have been more, but Sean Longstaff's intervention in taking the ball off him for Isak to take the penalty.

He looks fit, strong and against this level of opposition much like Murphy, he looks very good.

Rumours before the game were that Gareth Southgate was at Turf Moor - I've no idea if he actually was - but he can't fail to have been impressed with the Magpies' frontman, whether watching in person or on the TV!

The return of £63m duo

Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, were BACK in action for Newcastle - and it's just the boost the squad needed at the business end of the season.

The sight of Nick Pope on the bench is also a massive confidence lifter for everyone involved with Newcastle. He's been missed.

Almiron was quiet, but Joelinton was in no mood to ease himself back in, hammering into challenge after challenge, showing everyone just how big a hole his absence created. He dovetailed beautifully with Bruno, as their other halves watched on from the United away end.

Back to you Chelsea!

Chelsea threw the ball in Newcastle's court in the last week with two wins over Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, results which took them to within two points of Howe & Co.

Newcastle, with this win, just tossed the ball back with interest. Three games to go, you feel this might go to the wire, with four teams, arguably, fighting it out for 5th down.

Newcastle just need to keep winning and that'll mean Man United and the Blues will be powerless.