Something has to give, it really has come Saturday's lunchtime feast on Barrack Road. Newcastle have more bounce than a rubber ball having won their last nine matches straight off to equal the club record while incredibly Bournemouth are unbeaten in 10 which is their best run in the Premier League era.

If it is to be United extending their walk in paradise then Eddie Howe has to rid himself of a jinx because he has never beaten the club where he made his reputation when the PL flag of competition has flown over the stadium. Five times he has attempted it and he has come away with four draws and a defeat.

Of course I am sticking with a rampant Newcastle to power on - currently they could walk over the Tyne without getting their feet wet - but there is inevitably a challenge. United may have beaten three big beasts of late, and all away from home, but Bournemouth are the team in form who deny their supposed status as a small club surviving among the rich on 11,000 gates.

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They travel to United's cathedral on the hill housing 52,000 with confidence sky high despite having played of late without a recognised centre-forward with both Enes Unal and Evanilson among a host of injured. Their subs' bench at Chelsea in midweek included six academy players. Things may well have improved by kick off but not by much.

We are a historic club of No 9 legends and the list is filled with savage beauty . . . Hughie Gallacher, Wor Jackie, SuperMac, Alan Shearer, Len White, Les Ferdinand and many, many more. However to that roll of honour we must now add Alexander Isak, the identikit picture of an all round line leader with relentless pace, delicate touch, rapid relentless movement, and lethal finish. He is the perfect No 9 legend even though he wears No 14. No matter, No 9 is a throwback to the old days when there were no personalised numbers and all centre-forwards wore nine regardless. He is part of our striker heritage.

Too early to include Isak among the all-time greats? No way. He scored 25 last season and has 17 already this including notching in eight consecutive PL games which has overtaken the club's record holders Shearer and Joe Willock. Altogether his startling figures are 90 appearances including subs and 52 goals. That is pure gold. It is better to appreciate what we have rather than realise after departure into the sunset.

Just to prove Alexander is an all-rounder apart from scoring two goals against Wolves midweek he got the assist for United's third tucked away by Anthony Gordon. Come on, what are we waiting for? Most Geordies know we are faced with the real deal.

A 3-0 victory kept up a quite startling Newcastle goals rush as gushing as Niagara Falls. Twenty six goals in nine victories, never scoring less than two every time on the grass. Everyone wants Isak but we have him. Let it stay that way. We are not a stepping stone in a player's ambition, that is an insult, but a serious contender. He is the centre stage star in the glare of the spotlight but, my, the chorus line is fab as well.

I am sorry. To call others the chorus line is to under value what they are which is quite something. Sandro Tonali is a superstar unleashed from his straitjacket of playing slightly out of position and depression over his 10-month ban. Gordon is a swashbuckling left winger twisting and turning like a corkscrew. Bruno uses his right foot like a snooker cue putting on edge. Jacob Murphy is reborn, the back four are a barrier at the moment as resilient as Hadrian's Wall which has survived in part for 1,900 years, and Martin Dubravka kept another clean sheet on his 36th birthday against Wolves having already been labelled yesterday's man and confined to history.

While we rightly praise United's goals haul let us not forget a defensive record which shows only three goals conceded in those nine victories. That is not luck but a solid survival strategy. Of course teams will get chances the way United play on the front foot inviting counter attacks but a keeper and back four of defiance plus Tonali's extra blanket of comfort provides a safety harness.

United have gone from being buried 12th in no man's land to fourth top and cooking. When you are on a roll when does it stop? Next up are Bournemouth at home, Southampton away, and Fulham home _ all inviting _ before a tricky February against Arsenal (h) to make the Carabao Cup final, Manchester City (a), Nottingham Forest (h) and Liverpool (a).

At the moment it feels like nothing is impossible. Maybe all good things must come to an end but when? Not yet we pray. The feeling is warm, assuring, and rare. My, Geordies deserve it.