Newcastle's Villa revenge mission as Harvey Barnes brings guarantee Allan Saint-Maximin couldn't
The Magpies have revenge on the brain and could turn to a new signing to deliver it
Malcolm 'Supermac' Macdonald played football for NUFC and England during the 1960s and 1970s. He now writes a column on Newcastle United.
Revenge they say is best served cold. Well, let Newcastle United serve up that best of dishes come Saturday tea-time. Last season was amazing but United did suffer one particular nightmare and it was at Aston Villa. The only time they were comprehensively dismantled in 38 Premier League games was down there when they were trounced 3-0.
Irony of ironies, football's computer has served up a return match on the very first day of a new season. I hope Eddie Howe and every one of his players can vividly recall that day. It wasn't so long ago so it should still be in the memory bank.
This is the time to do something about it and there is a big difference. United are at home this time and that means 50,000 screaming, flag waving Geordies urging them on. They can make the crucial difference. It can be the platform to launch a victory parade.
I am buzzing at the thought of a new campaign as I am sure every Newcastle fan is because Champions League football is back after a 20 year wait.
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I am really looking forward to seeing United's new signings. Sandro Tonali is a great purchase for me. He can really play. He has vision, he runs with the ball, and creates things for those in the front line.
As for Harvey Barnes he brings goals to the party and there is no greater gift. Barnes scored 13 last season in a team poor enough to be relegated so what can he achieve at Newcastle? The lad is a genuine upgrade on Allan Saint-Maximin.
Don't take my word for it. Graeme Souness has picked Barnes amongst his top 10 best buys of the summer and in doing so said: "As a manager when you are sitting in the dressing-room at 2.30pm with your players and you have Saint-Maximin in your team you're saying: 'I don't know what I am going to get from him today.' With Barnes you know exactly what you are going to get."
Souness was speaking as a one-time manager of Newcastle, Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers and wearing my old managerial hat I couldn't agree more with him.
If the match promises to be a corker then I am really looking forward to getting Eddie Howe's teamsheet an hour before kick off. Team selection is going to be fascinating not least in midfield and up top.
A couple of players are going to miss out and feel badly done to but it is going to be a long season on four fronts and everyone will get a fair crack. Unai Emery has done a great job at Villa, very similar to what Howe has done here.
Emery got a bad break at my old club Arsenal where fans and critics had a pop at him. He's a good manager and has proved it since.
His side will be very difficult to beat. They are organised, disciplined and together. However Wor Flags have turned St James Park into a bearpit which inspires United's players and must put fear into the hearts of the more timid of individuals.
It will be a really tight game but I am going for Newcastle to return to keeping a clean sheet as they did so often in the first half of last season. It will be a 1-0 victory for me.