The question on the minds of every NUFC fan heading into 2022: Who is going to be first?

Normally New Year’s Eve means staying up until Midnight to see the New Year in. For NUFC fans thirsting with anticipation midnight on New Year’s Eve means so much more. It means that the January Transfer Window opens.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not expecting to have the first signing announced as Big Ben strikes twelve but like so many NUFC fans I’m hoping it won’t be long after. We need our new players in ASAP if not sooner!

Surely by the time the weekend is over we’ll be able to stop speculating, listening to rumours, commenting on guesses whether educated or not and have some solid facts. I certainly hope so and I would reckon so do many more.

With Callum Wilson out many want a striker in first. Others think an attacking midfielder is essential but for me it has to be defender(S) first. Whether it be Trippier, Botman, Tarkowski, Digne or someone else. We simply have to address the defensive issues first.

The way I look at it is this. You sort the defence out and make us harder to score against and solid then we have to score less goals to win. Simple isn’t it, and let’s be honest as much as we all love a striker it has to be defenders first as it has been for almost two seasons.

I want more pace, good aerial ability and leadership. That’s what I’d love first. The rest then can follow and of those I’d love Ramsey as (one) of the midfielders. But then, I’m falling into the trap of others by speculating!

No, midnight on New Year’s Eve is going to be a significant moment in the history of NUFC and it’s new owners and we await it with bated breath as we all wonder who will be first.