THERE have been times down history when Newcastle United's name has been unerringly intertwined with the England national side.
Alan Shearer achieved the greatest of honours regularly captaining his country as well as heading a Magpies list of influential international goalscorers.
Big Al claimed the Golden Boot at Euro 96 on his way to 30 England goals plundered from 63 international matches.
SuperMac, who won all 14 of his England caps while on Tyneside, smashed the Wembley goalscoring record racking up five in a European qualifier while Jackie Milburn claimed a Three Lions hat-trick against Wales at Ninian Park.
As for the Entertainers I was lucky enough to be a Wembley regular when we supplied a boatload of England's squad... Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley, Rob Lee, Steve Howey, Barry Venison, and David Batty. We were the team to visit for inspiration.
The Mags also launched the illustrious England careers of the likes of Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley, Kieron Dyer and Jermaine Jenas who all received their first international caps while swathed in black and white.
Oh, and delve far enough into the mists of time and United provided England's oldest ever debutant of his time - Frank Hudspeth in 1925 a year after he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley. He was 35 years and 187 days.
Memory can play tricks of course and consequently there are those who we cannot quite claim.
For example Kevin Keegan both played for and managed England but not while here. Gazza's first full cap arrived just after he had left. Likewise Andy Cole. Both brought to blossom at SJP but formally recognised after their exit.
Now however as England prepare to embark on the knock-out stages of the Euros this Tuesday evening we are reduced to claiming one of the manager's coaching staff, Graeme Jones, and otherwise cheering on a couple of Jordan Mackems Pickford and Henderson.
However patriotism inevitably kicks in come match day and overcomes United paucity of participants which reflects the club's current standing.
The Mags have had four players at the Euros. Martin Dubravka which is fair enough despite his nightmare against Spain and another three - Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, and Ryan Fraser - who are not even amongst the best in a side which could only finish 12th in the Premier League.
This time around when Germany come calling to Wembley one of the major questions is whether or not skipper Harry Kane can emulate 96 captain Shearer and hit the goalscoring heights again.
He has looked strangely off key - one shot on target in three qualifiers and twice substituted amid talk of a £100m move to Manchester City which could be a major distraction.
Of course Shearer's Euro exploits led directly afterwards to United paying a £15m world record fee to bring him home. Obviously a startling transfer then as Kane's would be now.
Shearer had been on a long barren run but under the guidance of Terry Venables and with Gazza as support he blitzed the Wembley opposition.
I was there for every game and it was electrifying. The best atmosphere I have ever witnessed live when England have performed.
It was the time when Shearer announced himself on the world stage as a rampaging British bulldog of a centre-forward.
Kane has been strangely lethargic and in desperate need of a goal as are England. Only two so far, both from Raheem Sterling.
However there is no question about Kane's one-eyed ability just as there was no way to doubt Shearer long term during his goalless run in white.
The similarities between Shearer and Kane are startling. Both relentless goalscorers for club and country, both immovable in their conviction, both England captains as centre-forwards, both legends at the club of their heart.
Kane reassures us that we need not worry over his current form. He is, he tells us, reaching his peak at just the right time as the knock out stages arrive. Never has a nation wanted a player to be more right.
If Scotland were the Auld Enemy when they came to Wembley then Germany are certainly the old foe.
I prefer to remember them going west in the World Cup final of 1966 rather than the team that stopped football coming home in the heartache of a penalty shoot out at Euro 96.
Kane can ease the pain of Shearer and the boys of 25 years ago by scoring the winner on another emotional night of us and them. That would be the perfect scenario.
