bundled off the goal line.

The game was, however, put beyond doubt shortly after the restart. Enrique nodded in Mendieta’s cross at the near post, having glided past a static Bramble, to put the visitors three goals ahead.

It was to get worse for the former Ipswich defender: he put a counter-attack to an end by fouling Enrique in the penalty area but Given spared his blushes by saving Kluivert’s spot-kick.

There were no Faustino Asprilla-esque heroics against Barcelona this time, either. Van Gaal’s side travelled back to Catalonia as resounding 3-0 victors.

It is fair to say, then, that Bramble failed to endear himself to the St. James’ Park crowd on his home debut. Robson led Newcastle to an excellent third-placed finish at the end of the 2002-03 season, behind championsManchester United and Arsenal, but not thanks to Bramble.

He featured only 13 times, but it got worse for him a year later: he was voted as 2003-04’s ‘Worst Premier League Player’ by the readers of The Fiver, a football newsletter compiled by the Guardian.

He ended his time on Tyneside at the end of the 2006-07 season after a brief resurgence and 105 league appearances. He went on to play for both Wigan Athletic and Newcastle’s close neighbours, Sunderland, in the top flight, before dropping into non-league with Stowmarket Town.

Currently, he is a coach of Ipswich’s youth teams and recently helped Ghanaian Premier League outfit Hearts of Oak, whilst enjoying charity work with the Future Stars Charity alongside former Tractor Boys midfielder Simon Milton.

You would hope that he does