England striker names St James' Park as the Premier League ground that makes him most nervous

St James' Park is one of the most beloved stadiums in the Premier League with Newcastle United players past and present often signing the praises of the atmosphere, while opposition players tend to do the same but frame it in a negative way.

50,000 Geordies signing their lads on and drowning out the 2,000 or so opposition fans is a regular occurrence and one thing that sets St James' Park aside from other stadiums is the placement of the away fans.

Housed in the Leazes End high up on Level 7, the away fans could hardly be further away from the action, and after climbing those stairs to get up there, it takes until half time to get your breath back to make any noise.

It's devious, really. Luckily, though, housing the fans so far away doesn't affect the atmosphere and plenty of fans have come and made their mark up there.

Ollie Watkins is terrified of St James' Park

One thing we rarely think of is how seeing their fans floating on clouds affects the players on the pitch but Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins has shared his thoughts on the stadium and even mentioned the rumours of the potential expansion.

Speaking to England's YouTube channel while on Euro 2024 duty, Watkins has admitted that St James' Park makes him nervous.

“Yeah, Newcastle, St James’ Park,” responds Watkins on which stadium makes him most nervous.

“I have had a stinker there every year, I think. But you just look up at that one stand and it just keeps going and going.

“I have heard they are making another one like that. I am like ‘no, don’t, please don’t’. But I would say there.”

Fingers crossed our dominance over Aston Villa continues next season

Let's hope that Watkins' bad times at St James' Park continue next season as the Magpies look to reclaim their Champions League place from Aston Villa who have become a force to be reckoned with since Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson could have predicted Aston Villa's season would end so well with the former Manchester United boss saying that Villa had impressed him on the opening game of last season despite being battered 5-1 by Newcastle.

We laughed at the time, but we weren't laughing in May.