**European nights at St James' Park have a certain level of magic about them, especially when Newcastle United are taking on one of the European big boys like they are on Thursday when Barcelona come to town.**
The Toon Army made the football world take notice when they created one of the great atmospheres on the night Paris Saint-Germain were entertained at St James' Park.
Obviously, the players take the credit for that amazing 4-1 win on that night, but some recognition has to go to the fans who were on it 100% from before the kick-off until after the final whistle blew.
Those are the nights at St James' Park that people who were there do not forget.
Alan Shearer's prior commitments will keep him away from St James' Park on Thursday
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Thursday is expected to be another such night with Wor Flags having been working hard on getting St James' Park ready since Sunday, but one man who won't be there to take it all in is Newcastle hero Alan Shearer, who will be 30,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean when the game is on as he told Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast.
> "Can you believe it? The fan fest that the Premier League do in the United States, this has been arranged for such a long time.
>
> "I'm going to Kansas and my flight's on Thursday. Can you believe that? I'm going to miss the game. I can't believe it. Nightmare for me, unfortunately."
Let's hope there's cause for Shearer to celebrate when he lands
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We're sure that Shearer will have a way to watch it on the flight, but not being there is probably going to sting for the Geordie legend.
Let's hope that when he lands in the USA, he's celebrating a Newcastle victory.
Imagine having something booked for this week only to have that draw come out and know that you're missing out on seeing Barcelona at St James' Park.