Amid the pageantry and rejoicing at St James' Park on Sunday, somewhere in the first energetic episode in the sportswashing of a murderous regime, a team of forgotten men will walk out on to the pitch. And, no, I'm not talking about whoever cleaned up after Mike Ashley when he puked in the fireplace after a drinking game with a Polish analyst called Pawel.
Tottenham will have a cameo role in the North-east on Sunday afternoon but that's OK. Their stars are getting used to that. Even Harry Kane doesn't get a full 90 for England these days.