Barclays Premier League football returns to Tyneside on Sunday and ESPN’s cameras will be there for live coverage as Aston Villa pay a visit.

Over the years I have seen the best and the worst of Newcastle. I still vividly remember the chaos of a midweek evening at Grimsby in 1993 when Kevin Keegan’s team won promotion to the Premier League for the first time. The town of Cleethorpes (for that is where Blundell Park really is) was completely overwhelmed by the Toon Army.

Tickets were an optional extra for the visiting hordes; the official attendance of more than 14,000 was just a stab in the dark. Goals from Andy Cole and David Kelly confirmed promotion and you could sense the momentum as they headed for the big time.

Twice, the Geordies came within a whisker of relieving Manchester United of the league title. They played cavalier football and quickly gained the mantle of many people’s second favourite team.

Subsequent managers failed to match Keegan’s success, although honourable mention should go to Sir Bobby Robson for coming close, and a gradual slide culminated in relegation – at Aston Villa – 15 months ago.

Keegan had come again – and gone – and not even the short-term appointment of Alan Shearer could save them. Fingers were pointed accusingly at the unpopular owner, Mike Ashley. Undoubtedly, he made some big mistakes, but perhaps the best thing he did was to call on Chris Hughton to lead the team out of the wilderness.

Hughton is quiet and understated and goes about his job with the minimum of fuss. He’s happier on the training pitch than the press room. Those are not qualities always appreciated by chairmen, however Hughton’s success on a meagre budget may be a pointer for Randy Lerner as he seeks a successor to Martin O’Neill.

Kevin MacDonald will again occupy the Villa dug-out on Sunday. Like his counterpart, he’s not one for hogging the limelight, preferring instead to concentrate his energies on guiding a group of players who clearly appreciate him.

Now it may be that Diego Maradona’s application – via the newspapers – usurps all others for the Villa job, but knowing Lerner and his right-hand man, Paul Faulkner, as I do, I believe they will have been impressed by what they’ve seen of MacDonald so far. He has bought them time in coming to a decision and he may even have complicated the process by adding his own name to the short-list.

Aston Villa won the European Cup under a caretaker-manager. If MacDonald continues to produce, there is no hurry.

Which brings me back to Sunday’s game. Villa beat a very poor West Ham on the opening day whilst Newcastle opened with a defeat at Old Trafford. But Hughton’s men will be a different proposition with noise cascading down from the steep stands of St James’.

Andy Carroll will wear No. 9 for the first time in front of the adoring masses. Sunday is the day for religion – and Newcastle United is tantamount to a religious cause for the thousands who see things only as black and white.

Whether the team will be good enough only time will tell. Whether the fans are up for it is beyond question.

Hey Jon - As ESPNSoccernets Newcastle Fan Correspondent maybe you could squeeze me in alongside you on Sunday?!

I will be watching from my usual seat in the famous Gallowgate corner and can not wait.

Enjoy - and thanks for writing something positive about the fans. Many prefer to take the opposite approach.

Marc

good article mate , i agree with the poster above.

Thank you for your article, it brightened my day following the disappointment of Old Trafford on Monday night. The St James' atmosphere will lift the players spirits, I see Andy Carrol knocking in a goal against Villa, but the defence had best be very alert to the threat of Villa's fast, and skillful forwards, John Carew will give Colocini and Williamson a big test, at least Milner won't be there to rub salt into the wounds. Chris Hughton did a fantastic job last season, but it will take half a dozen games in the Prem to see if he is there for the long haul, I suspect Ashley is of the same view and that's why significant funds are not being released at the present time? I hope Hughton is successful, we need continuity....

Jon I wholeheartedly agree with you on this. Newcastle have a descent squad to survive relegation but I believe they'll need to strengthen their squad for next season and maybe challenge for a European place. It's a good thing they're back in the premier league, i'm a man utd fan and i think they played well but just couldn't make the most of their chances. Good luck to Newcastle united and their loyal fans.