Chris Waddle
Ex-Tottenham and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Very good tempo about Sheffield United, they're using the width well and look the better team.

Ollie Norwood's corner is excellent and Jack Robinson is close to meeting it on the stretch. Relief for the hosts.

The Blades look slick, already sharper than just a few days ago if that's possible. George Baldock links up with the unit Sander Berge on the right and the wing-back is actually taken out.

Free-kick, John Fleck puts it in and Newcastle defend stoutly but it'll be a corner.

Good strong start from the Blades, back in their usual stripes today. Steve Bruce is barking out instructions from the sideline.

Straight from kick-off you can see the influence of John Fleck on the Blades, shouting instructions and directing play. They win a free-kick on the right. Load up the GLT cameras!

Ollie Norwood's ball in is good again but well punched clear.

The players encircle the centre spot for a moment's silence to mark the passing of all those affected by coronavirus, before the players and officials take a knee to support the Black Lives Matter campaign.

And we're off!

Mark Knopfler fills the air. A big yes from me.

Newcastle are out and lined up, and here come the Blades. A win would send them fifth.

Extraordinary once more from Wilder & Knill.

Only Liverpool (0), Manchester City (2) and Manchester United (2) have lost fewer Premier League home fixtures than Newcastle (3) this campaign.

A big tick in the Steve Bruce box.

Full sprinklers on at St James' now as we build up to kick-off. All set everyone?

Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder speaking to Sky Sports: "Our play [in the last match] was not as good as what it can be. We're looking to take it up another level. I'm delighted to have John Fleck back in the XI."

On the disallowed goal against Aston Villa: "Every professional footballer is going to have to suffer disappointment through games, seasons, careers - it's about how you recover. My group has shown that in the last two, three years.

"We have an important game and they are looking forward to the game."

As the players conclude their warm-ups I'm away for a pre-match visit to the kettle.

A reminder of the sides:

Newcastle: Dubravka, Manquillo, Lascelles, Fernandez, Rose, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Joelinton. Subs: Schar, Carroll, Gayle, Muto, Krafth, Yedlin, Lazaro, Darlow, Bentaleb.

Sheff Utd: Henderson, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, Sharp. Subs: Zivkovic, Lundstram, Luke Freeman, Jagielka, Kieron Freeman, Mousset, Osborn, Moore, Rodwell.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

Blimey.

A potential £$£$£$£$£ takeover at Newcastle is as interesting as it is problematic.

As a neutral who wishes it was 1996 most of the time I'd love to see them 12 points clear at the top of the table and playing swashbuckling football again.

As for the off the field stuff - I'll leave that to someone more serious and better researched than me.

Do we think Bruce will be in charge next term? Whenever that may be?

Kyle Utterson: As good a job as Bruce has done. If this takeover does get completed i would try and get a higher class manager. If we have big funds and big ambitions. We should go for a better quality manager. Like Pochetino, Naiglesman or Allegri someone of that ilk

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Bruce has won eight of his 11 games as a manager against Sheffield United, the club where he began his managerial career in 1998.

Denno getting closer to Waddle than most defenders could.

Sheffield United have won 44 points from their opening 29 Premier League games this season; the highest points tally in the competition by a newly promoted side at this stage of a season since Birmingham City in 2009-10 (also 44 pts).

Image source, BBC Sport

Can they get into Europe? Let's hope someone's plugged in the goalline cameras today.

The person on the fake crowd noise keyboard is warming up, just gave us a full 50,000+ roar for John Fleck doing some stretches.

Yeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh