Newcastle United face Sheffield United at St. James' Park on Wednesday night in the first match in front of home supporters since a 0-0 draw against Burnley in February, 2020 became the last game The Magpies played in front of their own fans before the Corona Virus pandemic shut down The Premier League and the UK for 14 months.

Since then, Newcastle and their supporters have been on a familiar rollercoaster with highs & lows - two Cup Quarter-Finals, a turbulent season, Corona Outbreak at the club, a 17-minute flirtation with the relegation zone and a mega effort since March to propel the club away from danger and earn Steve Bruce the Manager of the Month award:

The Manager of the Month award was the first top flight award in Bruce's long managerial career and was deserved recognition for a Toon transformation that included big wins against Burnley & West Ham and huge points against Spurs and Liverpool that propelled the game away from the danger zone to safety although typically the United boss paid tribute to the collective effort of players and staff saying:

"For me to win is a reflection on the players and my staff. They work tirelessly, and without them there's no award to win.
I'm delighted, and I want to thank them sincerely."

And The Magpies and Bruce weren't finished there either as Newcastle went to Leicester City and won 4-2 earning Head Coach Bruce The League Manager's Association Performance of the Week award for a stunning away win at the 3rd-placed Foxes who went on to lift The FA Cup at the weekend beating Chelsea 1-0.

On Friday night, Bruce succumbed to the dreaded Manager of the Month curse and his side lost 4-3 against newly-crowned Champions Man City, whom Newcastle's players gave a Guard of Honour onto the pitch, yet couldn't take anything from the game despite being only the second side this season to put three goals past The CityZens after a header from Emil Krafth, a penalty by Joelinton and penalty-rebound by Joe Willock:

Steve Bruce said is his pre-match press conference he was eagerly anticipating the return of fans to St. James' Park to watch his Newcastle side play:

From facing a team at the very top of the Premier League to one at the very bottom, Newcastle will face a very different challenge against a Sheffield United and one that gives Steve Bruce a chance to put behind him the 1-0 loss at Bramall Lane in January which he described as "one of the darkest days of Winter" when Newcastle became the first Premier League team to lose to a Sheffield United on their way to becoming the equal earliest relegated team when they lost to Wolves in Gameweek 32.

However, Newcastle could feel themselves very aggrieved on the night when a controversial penalty decision by Andrew Madley gave Sheffield United the only goal on the night (the same referee who would later controversially disallow Callum Wilson's goal at Anfield in Newcastle's 1-1 draw there) , sent off Ryan Fraser for two innocuous yellow cards and didn't send off eventual goalscorer Graham Sharp for a disgraceful tackle on Fabian Schar. The Swiss international defender is suspended for the reverse fixture after a very soft red card awarded by Mike Dean was not rescinded by The Premier League, whom Newcastle are taking legal action against following the breakdown of the Saudi Arabian takeover, while Sheffield United's John Fleck is able to play despite this head stamp in the Spurs game for which VAR took no action. On a level playing field surely Fleck would be suspended and Schar able to play the match.

Bruce spoke of the chance to "avenge" that defeat in which he admits to selecting the wrong team and asked his players for a final flourish for the last games of the year:

"Can we finish off the season? Two games left, I've been delighted over the last 9-10 games about how we've gone about it. More of of the same, supporters back in the ground, let's give them something to shout about and lets keep that attitude right.
I think the fans will be coming to cheer on their team...and if we go anywhere near like we did against Leicester or Man City or West Ham, they'll enjoy watching their team and supporting the team and I'm sure they'll give their team a wonderful reception...whatever kind of reception I get.
If we can get to 45 points (by winning the last two games) with the problems that we have had then we accept it but we have aspirations to be better than that."

Meanwhile in Paul Heckingbottom's press conference, The interim Blades' manager referenced the slim chance his side have of lifting themselves off the bottom of the table so are playing for pride and the possibility of not finishing rock bottom:

"That (not finishing bottom) would be nice, of course but that's us relying on West Brom.
"We want to go and win the games and get as many points as we can for ourselves.
"It was nice for me to be with the players when they picked up three points. I want that feeling again.
"I want the players to work hard but get the rewards as well."

Speaking about Newcastle, he said like opposite number Steve Bruce 'had said at the time', that is is "no coincidence" Newcastle have picked up points and wins once the team's attacking threat and attacking players, "Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson", were all fit together & his strongest team was available & so its proved.

Newcastle did the double over Chris Wilder's surprise package of the season last year with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Bramall Lane before a 3-0 win at St. James' Park in the first game of Project Restart & striker Joelinton scored that day and will be looking for his 4th goal in as many starts at Newcastle's famous stadium to end the season well.

Prediction - Newcastle 3 Sheffield United 1