"Look I don't care what team you are, if you have your big 3-4 players missing, it becomes at this level a big struggle so it gives everyone a lift to see Allan back performing and training, Callum is in and around it as well, Miggy is 100% fit."

Steve Bruce

The last time Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron lined up to start a Newcastle match together, Steve Bruce's Magpies were 3-1 to the good at half-time against Southampton and breaking a Newcastle scoring record going back five years.

It was the 23rd Premier League match of the season but the first time since match no. 7 & the 2-0 win over Everton that Steve Bruce could start his most attacking trio at St James Park, such has been The Magpies luck with injuries this season.

Indeed, Callum Wilson limped off in the 36th minute of the win over The Saints for a spell on the sidelines and both Almiron and Saint-Maximin would suffer the same fate in the next home game against Wolves & what is certain is that the fitness and form of the Newcastle's most potent attacking trio for the rest of the season is absolutely critical to Newcastle's survival.

Newcastle haven't won a game since the three started that game against Southampton and have picked up just three points slumping to 17th place, hovering two points above the relegation zone albeit with a game in hand over Scott Parker's Fulham in 18th spot.

So the return of the three attacking stars Wilson, Saint-Maximum & Almiron for the season run-in couldn't be more timely as Newcastle's Points Per Game is 1.75 from the four Premier League games they have started together, a ratio which extrapolated over a full season would be 67 points from 38 games.

With nine games remaining, a 1.75 points return would mean 15 more points for Newcastle finishing the season on a respectable 43 points but even finishing the campaign with an 11-point haul from the last 9 games like the 11 points from the opening 9 games which Newcastle started the season should mean 39 points and safety.

With a remaining fixture list that contains games against Spurs, Man City, Liverpool, Leicester and a West Ham side flying high - although one Newcastle managed to sweep aside on the opening day of the campaign - The Hammers, Burnley and Arsenal represent Newcastle's best chance of wins and three points and the two Get Out Of Jail games against Sheffield United and Fulham at the very end of the season.

Yet it is up to Newcastle to show they possess the quality and nerve in the final fixtures and prove that, except for one of the Premier League's worst injury lists which was exacerbated against Brighton when key man Isaac Hayden went off after a freak accident with the scores at 0-0 before a 0-3 reverse, this would be a different season:

So as well as the attacking changes, Bruce's biggest selection dilemma is who replaces Hayden in central midfield and despite local clamour for one of the Longstaff brothers who could add more youthful energy, the more experienced Jeff Hendrick is likely to get the nod especially having played in those keys win against Everton and Southampton in a midfield trio behind Almiron, Wilson and Saint-Maximin.

Following the international break, there may be a rest due to Ireland's Ciaran Clark so Fede Fernandez could come in for a start in an otherwise unchanged back five.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have just two injuries going into Newcastle - Matt Doherty and Ben Davies - so doubts Sergio Regulon and Son Heung-Min will face Newcastle after all.

The Special One, Jose Mourinho, is also under pressure if reports are to be believed despite a Carabao Cup Final lined up with Man City at the end of the month, after crashing out of The Europa League following the 3-0 reverse at Dinamo Zagreb and a disappointing 6th place in the race for The Top 4 in The Premier League.

'Little Magpie' Mourinho, the managerial protege of Sir Bobby Robson who would be an extremely popular managerial choice in the event of a takeover eventually going through at St James' Park, spoke last summer of his hope that Financial Fair Play would be relaxed and new owners like those potentially lined up at Newcastle could spend freely:

In his presser yesterday, Mourinho said "I am confident that we can win on Sunday" and reiterated his aim for Spurs to finish in The Champions League but is wary of Newcastle after Karl Darlow's heroics and a last minute penalty from Callum Wilson meant it was a draw at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the sides met in September:

"I expect a team obviously trying to win the match or at least a point as a point for any team at this time can be very important. They are a difficult team to play against." JM

Steve Bruce was full of praise for Mourinho in his presser and revealed he is wary of a Spurs side chasing The Champions League and who beat Aston Villa in their last match:

"They had a decent result last time out.
"For me, (with) José, the criticism that he receives is, in my opinion, ridiculous.
"Here is one of the greats.
"Over the last 20 years, what he’s done and what he’s done in the Premier League is there for everybody to see.
"They’ve got quality players in big areas of the pitch so, like always against the big teams, we’ll have to play well."

Speaking about the fitness of his own players, Bruce revealed that Allan Saint-Maximin's recovery is more advanced than Callum Wilson's so could feature on Sunday...

and, although having initially played down Wilson's chances of making Sunday's match, Bruce did tell Alistair Magowan of the BBC:

"There's still a couple of days before the Tottenham one and he's been in and around the training all week but it looks as if (the Burnley game) is more realistic."

Newcastle fans will be clinging to the hope that all three of Wilson, Saint-Maximum and Almiron are fit to start on Sunday and if not, all play some part in a vital Newcastle win.

Prediction - Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1