During an in-depth, eight-page interview, the 30-year-old reflects on his first few weeks on Tyneside, which have coincided with the Magpies’ upturn in form.

There’s plenty more exclusive content to be found over the course of a packed 84-page issue.

Ex-defender John Bailey is the latest former Magpie to take part in Q&A Revisited, in which we bring back to light some of the quick-fire interviews undertaken by United players over the years and then see how many of their answers remain the same in the present day.

Kieran Trippier takes on The Toon Tombola for the first time, discussing eternal life, WWE wrestling and Roger Federer while Toonament History – the feature in which we take a look back at Newcastle’s connections to football’s two biggest major tournaments – continues with a look at Italia ’90, where a number of Geordies were involved.

This week’s Guest Column, meanwhile, comes courtesy of rising North East singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, who has already worked alongside the likes of Noel Gallagher and Pete Doherty.

Club Historian Paul Joannou looks back at United’s “little and large” combinations over the years, and also remembers Princess Diana’s visit to St. James’ Park.

Further nostalgia comes courtesy of Stan Gate in Programme Matters, with Isaac Westendorf providing this week’s Academy Diary. Elsewhere, we find out a little bit more about Newcastle United Women’s Becky Ferguson.

And, as always, we’ll have eight pages of coverage on our visitors, Brighton, as well as skipper Jamaal Lascelles’ thoughts ahead of the game and Eddie Howe’s latest set of notes.

If you’re not able to make it on Saturday, you can still order your programme online – available on Curtis Sport’s website here.