I’m going to stop short of mentioning the possibility of relegation, because whether through logic or mere arrogance I’m not too worried about that just yet. A more pressing immediate concern would be that if Southgate’s lot come here and turn us over, they’ll go ahead of us in the table… with Sunderland only 4 points behind as well… Villa (a) and Man Utd (h) after this weekend doesn’t exactly breed confidence!

Anyway, we’re still 7 points clear of 18th, and 7 points to teams down at the bottom will take far more than 3 games to achieve. I realise we are still some way short of the final hurdle this season, but even just 2 more wins from our remaining games should see us safe. Can people really see the teams down there that matter winning 5 games before now and the end of the season? They all have to play each other, too, pretty much, so I think the dogfight will be established soon enough – with us out of it.

As far as ‘Boro are concerned, I think they’re probably safe as well, but this Sunday is still the biggest Tyne-Tees derby we’ve seen for some time. We’ll hopefully have Emre, Enrique and Viduka back and ready for action, while they should hopefully be missing Tuncay and Downing – but let’s all hope too that Alves isn’t allowed to play until the AZ Alkmaar stuff is resolved! Let’s be honest people, we need all the help we can get at the minute and I think we’re due our slice of luck against this lot after some of the recent meetings we’ve had (when they haven’t called games off due to blind fear of getting walloped, at least).

The game will probably come too soon for Beye and Faye, unfortunately, and I’m not exactly expecting a classic… but I think it’s fair enough to expect our first goal in the second coming of Kevin Keegan. Another dour 0-0 akin to that which we saw against Bolton would get the alarm bells ringing, no doubt, so we must see something from our charges here. To lose to this lot at this point in time doesn’t bear thinking about.

The Bolton game perhaps came a bit too early for Keegan to show what he could do, with only a day or so training with the squad ahead of the game while the Arsenal games at the Emirates were insignificant - Arsenal are a fantastic side and you can’t be judged by what you do against them. This is why the Boro game is the beginning and is so important.

A win against the Smoggies will be brilliant and the fans will be lifted by such a victory, especially if we win convincingly. I don’t think it’ll be a walk in the park or a strong scoreline due to our tiredness and how hard the players have been working recently, but it’s definitely a game we could win, regardless of Boro’s current form.

We NEED a win and we NEED some goals. None in 2008 in the Premier League is not good enough but I’m sure that will soon be put right. On the subject of goals, I think Michael Owen can come into some form. I can’t help but like the lad, even when others hate him. Michael Owen is a goalscorer and a man who will always get three chances in a game. He’s not fit yet, but when he gets a goal, they will keep coming and he’ll become his old self again; I’m sure of it.