Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 win at Burnley signalled the end of another eventful season for Newcastle United.
In many ways, it was a season like no other, with relegation from the Premier League feeling inevitable as misery continued under Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley.
But who have thought, a 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers in October would be the last with Ashley as owner.
Since then, the Magpies have had lift-off, with the new owners inspiring new hope and ambition on Tyneside. Bruce was sacked after the first game under the new era.
Pain, in a way, still followed, with Newcastle failing to win any of their opening 14 league games.
But patience was a virtue, and with Eddie Howe at the helm, United, since the turn of the year, surged away from Premier League relegation danger.
A total of 38 points - bettered only by Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - saw Howe’s side record a 11th placed finish.
Now, the focus turns to next season, where an ambitious Newcastle target bigger and better things.
Here, our writer Jordan Cronin dishes out his Newcastle United player ratings from the 2021/22 season:
1. Karl Darlow - 6
Played eight games at the beginning of the season in a period where United failed to win a game - not that any blame lies at Darlow’s door. A solid, reliable back-up. Simply replaced by the better goalkeeper when Martin Dubravka returned.
2. Martin Dubravka - 8
Bar a few debatable moments - as that is the case with any goalkeeper - the Slovakian has been top class. Dubravka got fitter and better as the season progressed, and showed why there is no urgency to replace him amid the Dean Henderson rumours.
Photo: PAUL ELLIS
3. Freddie Woodman - 5
Started the season as the club’s No.1 with Darlow and Dubravka out but once they returned, Woodman didn’t get a look in. Loaned to Bournemouth in January, and you have to wonder if his Newcastle career is over.
4. Dan Burn - 9
What. A. Signing. Burn wasn’t the ‘marquee’ centre-back signing Newcastle had in mind in January but he quickly proved everybody wrong. Based on how he’s performance, the Blyth-born defender is the best United could have recruited.
Photo: Stu Forster