Newcastle’s next game is away to Crystal Palace, where they’ll face the Eagles’ talisman Wilfried Zaha.
The winger was instrumental in Palace’s survival last season, and is imperative once again to Roy Hodgson’s side.
So far this season, Zaha has scored three times. Palace have won two games this season, and he found the net in both ties.
His latest goal was a stunner against Huddersfield, but the number 11 was far from impressed with the treatment he was getting from Terriers defenders.
The former Manchester United midfielder was the victim of a few mistimed challenges, which angered the Ivory Coast international after the game.
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“I feel like before anyone gets a red I’d have to get my leg broken or something. That’s why I lose my head,” he told BBC Sport.
“Why am I getting different treatment from other players?”
A challenge earlier in the season by Etienne Capoue should have ended with a red card for the Frenchman, but does the 25-year-old really get treated differently?
Newcastle must not treat Zaha differently
Zaha’s next task is to take on a stubborn Newcastle defence that hopefully won’t be affected by his comments.
Capoue’s challenge was awful, but not every foul on Zaha is a malicious act of violence.
The Magpies must try to get close to Zaha and stop him running, and doing that will result in a few fouls. It’s a physical game after all.
Nobody wants to see players get injured, but it remains a contact sport. Fouls on Zaha are often because he is too quick. Newcastle’s defenders must do what they have to do to stop Palace’s talisman, and hope the referee also isn’t influenced by his comments.