Newcastle United have slowly been cultivating a fine squad under Eddie Howe, who did not rush to spend big following the St James' Park takeover just over a year ago.

With unlimited riches at his disposal, the 44-year-old has meticulously added the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman over two transfer windows and will likely go down that route again this January.

Arguably, their weakest position with regard to squad depth is the wide attacking areas.

Whilst Allan Saint-Maximin is a box office talent when fit, their last two games against Fulham and Brentford outlined who will start when he is injured.

Although Miguel Almiron has deputised brilliantly, scoring three times in his last two matches, Jacob Murphy has started and Ryan Fraser has been deployed as substitute with little effect.

The Scotsman in particular has struggled on Tyneside, having scored just three times in 57 Newcastle appearances.

These two represent a level far below where the Magpies will see their future, and if they had someone of the level of the much-loved Jonas Gutierrez instead, their squad would instantly look far more impressive.

The Argentine, who will forever be remembered for his goal which helped the Toon to avoid relegation in 2015, his career path follows a sensational journey.

Having beat cancer and returned to playing, his 25-yard drive secured a win against West Ham United to send St James’ Park into raptures. His career was actually far more than that too, as he was one of the more dependable options for a poor Newcastle side.

Signed in 2008 by Kevin Keegan, he would go on to play 205 times for the Tyneside club, scoring 12 goals and setting up 27.

His statistics belie what a truly classy footballer he was, and although not blessed with scorching pace, his trickery and delivery would likely leave Callum Wilson and Aleksander Isak salivating if he were around today to supply the two centre-forwards at St James' Park.

He also had an aura around him which was infectious at the club at the time, and definitely would be now. 

Peter Beardsley said of Gutierrez in 2014: “When you look at him physically, he looks as well as he's ever looked and that, ultimately, is the most important thing… You can't comprehend what he's been through but he's been brilliant around the group so it was great for us to have him involved in a game like that…”.

The now-retired winger will forever be remembered with fondness by the Toon Army, many of whom would agree that, in his prime, he would walk into this current side alongside Saint-Maximin.