The final countdown

HBA's splendid winner over Fulham may have lifted the gloom around St James' Park temporarily (Paul's match report to follow), but as we move into the final day of the transfer window, our sole first-team signing of the summer remains a loanee. The next 23 hours are going to have to be extraordinarily busy to match up to the expectations of the fans or, indeed, the manager.

Not that additions are our only concern, mind - there's also the ongoing threat of Dreamboat's departure, and being left with no time to replace him. Not a scenario that's unfamiliar to us - think Rocky... Entering Saturday's game as a substitute, the midfielder was greeted with a mixture of applause and boos - rightly so, suggested the Silver Fox. Whether he stays on Tyneside depends partly on whether he takes the applause or the boos to heart - though primarily on whether Arsenal bump up their offer significantly. That's not a foregone conclusion now that they're reportedly in advanced talks to sign Mesut Ozil, rendered somewhat surplus to requirements by Gareth Bale's record-breaking move to Real Madrid.

Watch this space.