Sean Longstaff could keep his place in Newcastle United's starting line-up for the game against Manchester United - just two years after Mike Ashley warned the Red Devils that the midfielder was not for sale.
Newcastle appear to be a little light in the middle of the park ahead of Saturday's trip to Old Trafford but Longstaff, who was once linked with an eight-figure move to the Theatre of Dreams, looks set to be involved.
However, Jonjo Shelvey has missed Newcastle's last three matches with a calf injury so, perhaps, it would be a surprise if the playmaker was fit to start - let alone play - at the weekend.
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Miguel Almiron may also have to sit out the trip to Manchester after the Paraguayan FA lodged a complaint with FIFA after Newcastle refused to release the midfielder for international duty.
Ryan Fraser, meanwhile, was pictured on crutches with his right foot in a protective boot after suffering an injury while training with Scotland earlier this week.
That leaves Steve Bruce short of options if, as expected, the Newcastle boss decides to stick with the 3-5-2 system he has been wedded to since April.
Longstaff and Joe Willock should be available, though, while Isaac Hayden was fit enough to make the bench against Southampton last time out after shaking off a knock.
Longstaff started that 2-2 draw against the Saints but the midfielder previously had to settle for a place on the bench in the Magpies' opening two league fixtures against West Ham and Aston Villa.
With less than a year left on his contract, this game in Manchester could yet be a fresh chance for Longstaff to remind the football world why he was one of the country's most exciting emerging midfielders before suffering a serious knee injury in 2019.
Such was the maturity of Longstaff's performances, the North Shields lad even attracted interest from Manchester United, who baulked at Newcastle's £50m asking price.
Newcastle were desperate to keep hold of Longstaff at the time and Mike Ashley, who rarely speaks in public, went as far as to say that: "The message we want to put out is that he is not for sale. If you've got one like Sean – keep him."
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