This week I travelled 5,000 miles from Scotland to Azerbaijan via Turkey and back to see Qarabag v Newcastle, before embarking on a 600-mile round trip drive to Nottingham. I will admit to feeling a bit wearied as I got home late on Sunday night, but what about the players who did the same mileage and played two gruelling matches into the bargain.
OK, they might have been travelling first class, but even so, it must be exhausting.
That is why I was so incredibly impressed by Newcastle United. They ran Manchester City mighty close on Saturday night and every player gave every ounce of energy, just as they always do. Eddie Howe said afterwards that he was proud of his players as they gave everything. This is a stock phrase you get from every manager, but you can tell that this comment was from the heart.
Newcastle are basically through after that Anthony Gordon-inspired 6-1 Champions League rout, but you still hear the odd rumbling about the team's underachievement in the Premier League. They may be slap bang in the middle of the table, but I reckon no-one could get more out of the group than Eddie and the vast majority of the fans know this.
Five years is a long time in football management, but I think it should only be the beginning for one of the best bosses in the business.
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