Jacob Murphy, pictured left, starred in Newcastle United's win at Ipswich
Goal crazy Newcastle have perfectly set up a Boxing Day fight between two determined Premier League sluggers hell bent on proving their glorious dream has not been shunted off the motorway into a cul de sac.
The 4-0 slaughter of Ipswich before deflated Tractor Boys meant United have unbelievably piled up no fewer than 16 goals in their last five times out of the stable to bring great festive cheer to every Geordie and set up a thumping Thursday against arch rivals Aston Villa.
They in turn heightened anticipation of a tasty shoot out by doing to punch-drunk champions Manchester City what everyone is doing these days _ beating them. This time by 2-1.
Goals keep raining on our heads and we have discovered another centre-forward who can take his place alongside No.9 Legends like Alan Shearer and SuperMac, Wor Jackie and wee Hughie Gallacher, Sir Les Ferdinand and Andy Cole, in the list of greats who have served us admirably. Take a bow Alexander Isak, the most elegant of assassins. Of all the blue chip players United have he is by far the most valuable because of the job he does as well as his visionary ability outside of scoring. Trying to find goalscorers is akin to searching for a diamond on the sea shore and he does it with so much panache.
United and Villa have had the audacity in recent times to become football's ghost busters rising from a long dormant period to smash the accepted order of the self appointed Super Six and charge to Champions League qualification.
United achieved the impossible two seasons ago to be quickly followed by Villa last campaign. Those who feel a place at Europe's top table ought to be automatically theirs by right didn't like it and kicked up the dust. However they were consoled by the thought that with the PL's crippling financial fair play rules any upstarts would never be able to sustain such a challenge under a heavy work load and it has appeared they could well be right.
United began the weekend amid the also-rans 12th in the PL while Villa had won but two of their last eight league matches though doing superbly in the Champions League. However what a difference an hour and a half can bring in the wonderful topsy turvy world of football. Both upstarts are threatening the domestic pecking order again!
The Mags were devastating at Portman Road. The hosts, who had lifted local spirits by winning their last game, stayed competitive for all of 26 seconds until United took the lead. If they had hoped the North East was a lucky hunting ground for them they were badly mistaken. Ipswich's last home win in top flight football had been against Middlesbrough back in April of 2002 but Newcastle were never going to meekly put their head on the chopping block of expectation.
Instead Isak, who scored before a minute was up, went on to notch his first hat-trick and the first by a Newcastle player since Ayoze Perez more than five years ago to have us all reaching for the record books again.
The stylish Swede, who I will state yet again as I have for so long must not leave in January under any circumstances, has so far scored 23 goals in a single calendar year to overtake one of Shearer's best totals of 22 set in 1999. Next in line to be shot down is Andy Cole's 24 achieved in 1994 while the unassailable all-time record is inevitably held by Big Al with a massive 27 in 2002. Isak has two more opportunities to haul in Cole.
Such has been the crowning of Alexander The Great that he has now fired 11 goals this season and six in his last five appearances. That follows 25 last time round the block. If we adore No.9 legends then let us realise we are witnessing one right now.
Not that Isak was alone as a Christmas star shining in Suffolk skies. Jacob Murphy tortured former Wallsend Boys club protege Leif Davis, who has a commendable reputation of his own, scoring and producing an audacious backheel for Isak to complete his hat-trick. A guy who came through the ranks at Ipswich's bitter rivals Norwich had his greatest day in the sun.
Jacob has been a long server at a club he supported from being a young 'un and has been willing to play a bit part in the bigger picture. Top clubs need his like and he deserves the spotlight to be swung his way for a change as it most certainly has in recent games. Yes, we still need an outside-right in January to be competitive over the long haul of a season but Murphy has proved his right to be valued way ahead of Miggy Almiron.
There were other plusses of course... inevitably Sandro Tonali who is in a rich vein of form, Lewis Hall who is enjoying a sensational break-out season, and skipper Bruno Guimaraes making the most of the release his Italian partner affords. There is no need to go on. There were no failures.
It is perhaps wise as a note of caution before we all get drunk on the Christmas punch to point out that Villa's challenge will carry a lot more backbone than that of Leicester, Brentford up here, and Ipswich. They are a different class to them. Dangerous and threatening.
However may Villa be the Villans weighed down by Christmas pud and Champions League expectation come Boxing Day's festive fare.
How to follow our NUFC WhatsApp channel
Did you know you can now get Newcastle United stories on WhatsApp? As well as our NUFC communities, we also have a channel dedicated to sending you the best news, opinion and analysis on all things black-and-white.
All you have to do is follow our channel on WhatsApp by clicking this link or you can find us by searching Chronicle Newcastle United.
Updates will then automatically appear if you select the Updates option on your WhatsApp menu and selecting the 'Chronicle - Newcastle United' channel. It's as easy as that. There are already thousands signed up, but remember to turn your notifications on so don't miss out.