Chris Wood has completed his £25million switch from Burnley and Newcastle fans are backing him to score the goals that keep their side in the Premier League.
The New Zealand striker has netted just three times this season but has reached double figures in each of the last four campaigns, putting him in company with Mo Salah, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Alexandre Lacazette and Heung-Min Son.
Toon supporters will be hoping for a second half of the season surge in front of goal as Wood will be immediately thrown into the side in absence of the injured Callum Wilson.
If previous strikers of his ilk are anything to go by, the future looks bright for the 30-year-old on Tyneside…
A tall, aggressive target man who puts himself about and knows how to use his head has often been the focus of adulation at St James’ Park over the years.
ChronicleLive looks at those who have led the line in black and white as the Magpies’ new frontman looks to make a similar impact…
Wyn Davies (1966-71)
The Welshman, nicknamed ‘Wyn the Leap’, was the perfect battering ram for the Newcastle attack during the late 60s and early 70s.
Davies was part of the side that won the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup which, remains to this day, the Magpies’ last major honour.
Malcolm MacDonald (1971-76)
‘Supermac’ was the core of Newcastle’s attack in the 1970s and made an instant impact by scoring a hat-trick on his home debut against Liverpool.
He top-scored in every season he spent on Tyneside and his goals led the Magpies to the 1974 FA Cup final, ultimately losing to the Reds.
MacDonald still passionately follows Newcastle.
Imre Varadi (1981-83)
A journeyman striker, Veradi played for 16 different clubs in England but enjoyed a successful time on Tyneside.
Arthur Cox bizarrely sold the striker to Sheffield Wednesday in 1983, a move that Veradi admitted took him by surprise.
LISTEN: THE MATCH PREVIEW - WATFORD (HOME): WOOD ARRIVES IN TIME TO PLAY
Les Ferdinand (1995-97)
The no-nonsense centre-forward wore the number nine shirt as his 29 goals almost guided Newcastle to the Premier League title in 1995/96, a wound that still stings Magpies fans to this day.
Ferdinand was stripped of the legendary jersey due to the arrival of Alan Shearer but he was still a key asset during his second - and final - season at St James’ Park as he struck up a formidable strike partnership with the Toon icon.
‘Sir Les’ remains a popular figure on Tyneside due to his ferocious goalscoring record.
Alan Shearer (1996-2006)
It is harsh to label Shearer as purely a target man because, in theory, he was the complete centre-forward.
However, his ability to tussle with defenders and score freely in the air means he has to go on this list… this article would not seem right otherwise.
Shearer’s record speaks for itself as 206 goals in 405 games puts him top of the all-time scorer charts at Newcastle and earned him a well-deserved statue outside the ground.
Duncan Ferguson (1998-2000)
‘Big Dunc’ had two injury-ravaged years at Newcastle but, when he was fit, won the hearts of supporters with his aggressive displays on the pitch.
An old-school centre-forward, Ferguson still scored 12 goals in a black-and-white shirt despite being sidelined for most of his time at St James’ Park.
He later returned to Everton, where he remains a popular figure with the Toffees faithful.
Andy Carroll (2006-2011)
When Andy Carroll first broke through the first team many expected him to continue Shearer’s legacy and become the next Geordie hero.
The Gateshead lad was renowned for putting his body on the line which, ironically, is likely part of the reason why his career has been blighted by injuries.
Carroll’s performances during those early years in his first stint on Tyneside put the fear of God among defenders, making him a worthy member of this list.
Demba Ba (2011-13)
Like Shearer, there was a lot more to Ba than his target-man credentials but they were such a staple of his game that it felt impossible to leave him out.
Arguably the best striker of the Mike Ashley era, the Senegalese hitman scored 16 goals as Alan Pardew led the Magpies to a surprise 5th-placed finish in 2011/12.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (2015-18)
While ‘Mitro’ was not the most prolific of strikers at Newcastle, his overly-aggressive style earned him cult hero status at St James’ Park.
His celebration after his dramatic late equaliser against Sunderland went down in Tyne-Wear derby folklore and further engrained his popularity with Toon fans.
Mitrovic is flying high at Fulham and is currently the Championship's leading scorer, with 24 goals in 23 games.
Daryl Murphy (2016-17)
An ageing target man, signed as a backup to the preferred striker, with a proven track record of finding the net… ring any bells?
Murphy was brought in by Rafa Benitez as Dwight Gayle’s deputy during the Championship-winning season of 2016/17.
The Irishman certainty played his part, chipping in with six important goals as the Magpies pipped Brighton to the title on the final day.
Saloman Rondon
Another Benitez signing, Rondon had a slow start to life at Newcastle but, once he found his feet, became an integral part of the team during his loan spell.
The Venezuelan bullied defenders and his 11 goals in 2018/19 helped the Magpies finish well clear of the relegation zone.
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