Ruthless Newcastle United have Champions League message to send against Leicester

It's not Ruud merely facing facts. Leicester City are dead men hardly walking more limping towards inevitable relegation back to the land of the nearly men. Down in 2023, up 2024, down again 2025. What happened to the club that was sensationally crowned PL champions in 2016 and went on to win the FA Cup five years later?

Ruud van Nistelrooy, serial winner as a player at Man U and Real Madrid, is now a serial loser. Leicester have lost their last seven league matches without scoring a solitary goal and 14 out of their last 15. That's horribly embarrassing. It's a white flag abjectly waived in surrender.

Stranded 15 points adrift of safety with only eight games remaining, the Foxes are without question destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

Which is why United must take full advantage in a Monday night telly set-to. If they wish to upgrade on their European status then three points have to be gathered. The run-in is too short for unexpected hiccups. Just before Christmas United smacked City 4-0 up here which was about par for the course. It's goodbye to Gary Lineker's favourites, but let Newcastle refuse to give them a farewell gift to ease the pain.

It has often been said this season that United are at their best against the best but a tad vulnerable against the rest. Certainly they have walloped the PL's top three - they beat Liverpool at Wembley in a memorable Carabao Cup final, have downed Arsenal three times and Nottingham Forest on another three occasions.

However facts may not quite bear out the negative bit. Maybe United are susceptible against mid-ranked safety sides who can play with a bit of freedom but not so much when facing those in the pressure cooker of relegation. United have won 3-1 at Southampton, 4-0 at Ipswich, 1-0 at West Ham, and 2-1 at Wolves. Let us hope the trend continues.

Sandro Tonali was by some distance United's star performer in an iffy win over Brentford even taking out his 'wonder' winner which he may or may not have entirely meant by his own admission. Standing between his two central defenders, Tonali's positional sense and anticipation are terrific, he snuffs out danger and uses the ball with purpose and accuracy which stood out on a night when United's final pass was often wayward. The man has class.

We are used with clubs sniffing round for United's top performers such as Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno. Now it's Tonali as well with a host of Italian clubs thinking they have a chance of luring him back home.

However the suggestion of Juventus is nothing short of laughable . . . and insulting. They are supposed to be considering making an audacious £70m offer which would include two players heading our way, former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz and, wait for it, Lloyd Kelly.

I mean, can you believe it. We've just pulled off a masterstroke by negotiating a £20m fee for Kelly who was signed on a free transfer and had struggled badly early season but Juve think we might gratefully take him back in part exchange for an absolute thoroughbred.

Juve's sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has been pilloried by their fans for signing Kelly in the first place, a deal which must be completed if Juventus qualify for any European competition which seems more than likely.

No, Giuntoli got tucked up and he hopes United may feel sorry for him and let him off a great big hook just as Kelly becomes theirs permanently? I suggest not. Tonali must stay because he is the very best but to even think United are that daft beggars belief. There have been some crazy transfer deals floated ahead of the summer but this beats the lot.

It's good to have Anthony Gordon free from a three-match suspension because with a thin squad a pressurised sprint for the finish line becomes tricky which is why injuries to Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier against Brentford to go with long term absentees Lewis Hall and Sven Botman were worrying.

Eddie has fitness decisions to make especially how free of pain Gordon is after his England knock and the outcome may be to err on the side of caution and restrict him to the bench especially with Harvey Barnes returning to his old club. The major concern is Isak going missing at any stage during United's final push. Not only is he a goal machine but cover for him is virtually nil. Callum Wilson sadly appears as though he is resigned to a free transfer coming his way making little or no impact when going on.

Despite being significantly short of sharpness and missing a couple of gilt edged chances Isak still notched as usual midweek and looks set to top both his totals from last season which would be quite something. He scored 21 PL goals and 25 overall last time round the circuit and currently has 20 in the league and 24 in total. That means he needs two more and his nine matches if fit to get them.

I'll be at the Fleet Street pub in Pudding Chare with one of United's Entertainers Steve Watson to do a pre-match chat shortly after 6pm so we hope to see you then.