Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy (Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Imag)
For Ruud van Nistelrooy, coming to Newcastle United and St James' Park makes him think of just one man - and it brings a smile to the Dutchman's face. Sir Bobby Robson was a huge influence on so many footballers, but became synonymous with his boyhood club after helping take them from relegation battlers to the Champions League.
It's a route Eddie Howe emulated two years ago with the current version of the Magpies, and the United boss knows he needs a morale-boosting win against the Foxes this weekend. The visitors are unbeaten in two games since Van Nistelrooy took over from Steve Cooper, beating West Ham and then coming from two goals behind to draw with Brighton.
The former Manchester United striker has had plenty of run-ins with Newcastle previously, of course, but it is the figure of Sir Bobby which always dominates his thoughts when considering the Magpies, after he spent a year with the legendary coach at PSV.
"The memory I have of Newcastle is Sir Bobby Robson," he said ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash. "Leading up to this game, my thoughts went back to the year I had with him at PSV. He was a wonderful man and thinking of him makes me smile. I will go there with that thought.
"Football, he was always talking about getting better and improving. You cannot control everything. But to be a team and what it's like to be a team. The sense of humour he mixed in to motivate the players. It was amazing. Fight and spirit and emotion and being the best you can be."
Van Nistelrooy will be fully focused on the class of 2024, of course, but admits he is concentrating more on his own side, rather than worry about the talent Eddie Howe has available to him.
"I need all my time and energy to focus on my own team," he added. "I looked at Newcastle and know how strong they are. We don't focus on where they are in the league, but the potential of where they can be. It's a great squad. We have to be spot on to get a good game.
"They're offensive threats, with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon and the midfield power they have with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes. They've got many options and it's a good opportunity to continue to grow ourselves."