Lee Clark admitted he was shocked that at the age of 32, he played so many games for a talented squad.
He said: “I thought the odd League Cup game or substitute appearance might come my way, but didn’t envisage playing in as many games.
“There were some exciting young players in the Magpies’ dressing room. Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, James Milner, Titus Bramble, Charles N’Zogbia and Steven Taylor had played a lot of games for being so young.
“Then there were the more experienced lads in: Alan Shearer; Shay Given; Stephen Carr and Robbie Elliott were back at St James’ Park. Michael Owen had also signed for the club that summer.
“Despite that, I felt the quality of the group was nowhere near the previous squads I was involved with under Kevin Keegan.
“A thirty-two-year-old Lee Clark wouldn’t have got a sniff in a Keegan squad.
“The chairman, Freddy Shepherd, was still providing funds for his managers but the players coming in were nowhere near the standard I’d played with before. Gary Speed, Craig Bellamy and Jonathan Woodgate had left.
“Some of the replacements, the likes of Albert Luque and Celestine Babayaro, came in commanding massive transfer fees and on enormous wages, yet lacked any commitment. Babayaro was a strange one because he was successful at Chelsea. He did have talent.
“Regardless of whether the team won, lost or drew, it didn’t affect how they felt.
“For someone like me, it was particularly galling to have that type of personality in the dressing room.”