Louis Saha playing for Newcastle United in 1999.Louis Saha playing for Newcastle United in 1999.
Louis Saha playing for Newcastle United in 1999.

The last Newcastle United side to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League - with some surprise names

Forest will return to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years with an opening day visit to St James Park after they beat Huddersfield Town in the Championship

Newcastle United will host a newly-promoted side on the opening day of the Premier League season for the first time since 1998 when Championship play-off winners Nottingham Forest travel to St James Park on the first Saturday of August.

It is just over 23 years since the two sides met in the top flight as a Magpies side managed by Ruud Gullit secured all three points with a 2-1 win at the City Ground thanks to goals from Alan Shearer and Dietmar Hamann.

United would go on to end the season in 13th place in the top tier and were unsuccessful in their attempts to secure silverware as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against treble winners Manchester United in the FA Cup Final.

Forest ended the season with just 30 points, finishing bottom of the Premier League table and suffering relegation into the second tier along with Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.

The two clubs have met in various cup competitions and during United’s two seasons in the Championship - but that Dietmar Hamann inspired win remains their last top flight meeting.

NewcastleWorld takes a look at the players that represented the Magpies at the City Ground that night.

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