As a lifelong Newcastle United fan and season ticket holder since long before the Mike Ashley era, I’ve seen just about everything this football club can throw at us. The highs, the lows, the relegations, the promotions, and now once again the doom and gloom from pundits and some of the so-called die-hard supporters.

Yes, this transfer window has been difficult.

We’ve lost Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and, barring the official announcement, it looks like Bruno Guimarães is also on his way. Losing players of that quality always hurts, but football moves quickly and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made.

Anthony Gordon is undoubtedly a talented player. On his day he could be outstanding, but if I’m honest, those performances weren’t consistent enough in a Newcastle shirt.

Sandro Tonali was a fantastic all-round midfielder. Defensively he was excellent, worked tirelessly for the team and controlled games well. There were moments, though, when you wanted that extra bit of quality in the final third or that decisive pass. A top player without question.

Then there’s Bruno Guimarães.

What a footballer. He wore the black and white shirt with pride every single time he stepped onto the pitch. He played with passion, commitment and always looked like he genuinely cared about the club and the supporters. He’ll rightly go down as one of the key players in Newcastle’s rise under the new ownership.

But at 28 years old, have we perhaps seen the very best of Bruno?

Maybe we have.

The reality is Newcastle received incredible value for these players, and that’s a credit to the club’s recruitment and planning.

We all know the limitations of PSR. We simply can’t spend like Manchester City or Chelsea and buy whoever we want without consequences. Sometimes selling big players is necessary if you want to build something sustainable.

That’s why, despite the disappointment, I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming next.

Lewis Miley is an unbelievable talent. His vision, composure and ability to pick out a killer pass at such a young age are exceptional. He’s already shown he belongs on the biggest stage by performing in the Champions League, and he’ll only continue to improve.

Sean Steur is another player Newcastle fans should be excited about. If you’ve watched him play, you’ll know exactly what I mean. His technical ability is outstanding, he’s calm under pressure, can score goals and already looks like someone who could become a leader on the pitch.

Then there’s Aladji Bamba.

This lad is explosive. He has pace, power and directness that defenders hate. I honestly believe he’ll make an impact sooner rather than later.

And don’t forget Bazouka Toure.

Another exciting young player blessed with unbelievable athleticism and an engine that just doesn’t stop. With the right coaching and opportunities, he could become a real asset for Newcastle.

Now we have a new head coach in Matthias Jaissle. If he can get his ideas across quickly, improve these young players and build a team around hunger, intensity and energy, I genuinely believe Newcastle supporters have plenty to look forward to.

Football is always changing.

Great players leave, new stars emerge, and every successful club has to evolve.

As supporters, we can either dwell on who’s gone or get behind the next generation.

I know which one I’m choosing.

Howay the Lads!