10 Players Newcastle Should Never Have Sold In The Premier League Era

2. Kevin Nolan

Captain and leader supreme for Newcastle in the messy aftermath of relegation, it was Nolan that galvanised a fractured dressing room, most notably after a humiliating 6-1 friendly hammering from League One side Leyton Orient. It proved to be a watershed moment in our history as the Liverpudlian bred an "all for one and one for all" mentality, weeding out the players that didn't have the stomach to stay and battle it out in English football's second tier. Promotion back to the Premier League was achieved at the first time of asking, Nolan weighing in with 17 goals, and remaining a pivotal component on our return top-flight, forging a profitable understanding with Andy Carroll. 12 goals that season, including a memorable hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition of Sunderland, further endeared him to the fans, most of whom were angered when he was sold to West Ham in the summer of 2011. He's scored seven times for the Hammers in 2013/14, just three less than sum total of the midfield that begun the match at Arsenal on Monday, but it's his leadership (and chicken dance celebration, lets not forget) that we've sorely missed in the three years following his departure. This season more than most.