Now Alan Pardew appears to have no intention of allowing Fraser Forster to return to Celtic after criticising the standard of the SPL.
The Toon goalkeeper has spent the season on loan in Scotland in order to build first-team experience and on Saturday he helped Celtic to their cup final win over Motherwell.
Many north of the border wonder why the Scottish national team is so bad - it's simple - the Scottish League is rubbish!
Neil Lennon wants to keep Forster beyond the summer, but Pardew suggests the 22-year-old gained more experience playing for Norwich City last season.
Alan Pardew: "I think he's coming back to a completely different level of football, I'll tell you that now.
"We have watched that division and watched him all year. We've been very disappointed with the quality of the games, other than the occasional Rangers versus Celtic game.
"And even some of those have been poor, if I'm honest. He is coming to a completely different level of football.
"Fraser is not a shoo-in, none of them are.
"It's going to be a case of, 'come on then, who's the hungriest, who has had a summer, who's actually really taken care of what they're doing over the summer?'
"Who is putting in front of me, 'I'm ready, I can be the man'. Hopefully, that challenge will go right up to the day we kick off."
A THANK YOU TO FOOTYMAD READERS ...
'MAGPIES IN EUROPE'
FOR £5.99 (inc post)
2010/11 has been NewcastleUtd-Mad's greatest season, and as a thank you to all readers we are giving you the chance (FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY) to purchase "MAGPIES IN EUROPE" for £5.99 (and that includes the postage).
*Normal price is £9.99
OFFER ENDS JUNE 10th 2011
Although "Magpies In Europe" will not be launched OFFICIALLY until next season ... if you want a copy it is available NOW from this website ... and ONLY from this website!
Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me.
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"Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down.
"Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff.
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MAGPIES IN EUROPE
From Antwerp to Zurich
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