And that is a major concert to Toon striker Michael Owen, who has admitted he fears a repeat of his injury nightmare should he play in October.
Is Owen Set For A 'Minor' Injury Against Man City?
Steve McClaren's men have five games left to salvage their unconvincing Euro 2008 qualifying campaign - with this autumn's trip to Moscow the only one to be played away from the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
Owen spent all but the last three games of 2006-07 out of action after he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament on World Cup duty last summer.
And Owen fears a recurrence on what is likely to be an unyielding surface in Moscow. Which is a big hint for a "minor injury" when Newcastle face Manchester City on October 6th. (*If you follow where I'm coming from.)
Owen: "I hope my knee holds up to an artificial pitch. Most people that have done their knee in the past say stay away from them.
"We use artificial pitches and everyone is used to them, it's just if you get tackled and hit the ground funny it might hurt a bit.
"Obviously we had a tricky few games and didn't get the results we wanted. I've only been in the squad for the last two games so I've been watching everything from afar, but morale and team spirit among the lads and staff is fantastic, like it's always been. There's no problems there.
"We've got a new stadium and it feels great, (you feel) almost invincible before you go out there, it's fantastic when you get all the supporters behind you.
"We've got four teams to play at home and none of them will find it easy taking points off us.
"If we win our home games, I'm sure we'll be there."
McClaren's side currently lie in fourth place in Group D, three points shy of a qualification berth after a mixed campaign which has included a defeat in Croatia and uninspiring draws with Israel and Macedonia.