Cole: I loved playing in United v Newcastle fixture

Indeed, Coley netted in both of his Premier League appearances for Newcastle against the Reds and, after his 1995 transfer between the clubs, went on to score more times against the Magpies than against any other side (nine goals) during his highly successful United career.

The Treble winner was back to do some work at Old Trafford recently so, while he was visiting, we had to ask him about his memories of the classic top-flight battle between two of his former teams, ahead of its next instalment at the Theatre of Dreams on Boxing Day.

“I was always fortunate to score in it, I don’t know why! I loved playing in that game too,” Coley told us, sat overlooking the Old Trafford pitch.

“You know Newcastle are always going to come and try and beat you. They never ever came to Old Trafford to sit behind the ball and try to go for a 1-0 win or anything. They always open themselves up, expansive, always try to win the game. 

“And when they travel as well, they travel with unbelievable support, and I just think it makes Old Trafford a real special arena [for a game like this].”

While the upcoming meeting is at our home ground, Newcastle’s St James’ Park has also hosted its fair share of memorable matches in the fixture over the years.

This season marks three decades since a storied match of the rivalry's past, a 1-0 win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s visiting United team in March 1996, which arguably swung the momentum of the '95/96 Premier League title race in our favour.

Eric Cantona got the only goal, and the Reds closed the gap at the top of the table to just one point on the league-leading Magpies, but Cole remembers that outing – his first back at Newcastle since signing for United – for a performance from one of his team-mates that wasn't on the scoresheet.

“Pete Schmeichel. Unbelievable,” he said, recalling the Great Dane's famously heroic performance in goal.

“Without Pete Schmeichel that night, it could have been a cricket score. But he was absolutely unbelievable. He was man of the match. 

“As forwards, you always get all the credit, Eric gets the goal. It was a real good goal, but without Schmikes that night, it would have been a tough one. He was producing save after save after save.”

Having trailed the Magpies by 12 points earlier in the campaign, United took the lead in the title race later that March and, from then on, would not relinquish first position that term.

The Reds completed the job on the final day away to Newcastle’s North East rivals Middlesbrough, with a 3-0 win that Cole scored in, sealing the first of the five Premier League titles that he would win with us.

Nearly 30 years on, Andrew remembers the triumph at Newcastle as a season-defining night.

“I think it won us the title,” he added.

“They were confident being the home team and rightly so. They played very well, they played very well that night, and they no doubt believed they could beat us there. If Schmikes didn’t have the unbelievable evening which he did have, they might have beat us.

“So, I'll take nothing away from the goalkeeper, he was unbelievable that evening.”

Coley is coming back to Old Trafford in January for an evening with Denis Irwin and Alex Stepney - click here to book tickets to the event!