The fourth goal had just gone in, but ruthless Newcastle United were not about to show doomed Sheffield United any mercy. In Eddie Howe's own words, Newcastle 'had a job to do' at St James' Park. The Magpies boss duly introduced Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes together for the first time since August.
"It's a strange feeling for me because we haven't had that strength in depth in the attacking side this season," Howe told reporters. "It has had a big impact on us so it's really nice to take a couple of players off and give them a rest and bring on such top-level players. They gave everyone a confidence boost."
It did not take the £58m pair long to make an impact. In fact, it was Barnes who drove at the heart of Sheffield United's defence and dinked the ball into Wilson's path for Newcastle's fifth goal in the 72nd minute.
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It took you back to another 5-1 hammering on the opening day. Howe also threw on these forwards when Newcastle were in command against Aston Villa and that afternoon felt like a glimpse of what this side could be.
Such were the options at Howe's disposal, on a day Sandro Tonali dazzled on his Premier League debut, Sean Longstaff could only make the bench; Tino Livramento could not get on the field; and Lewis Miley and Matt Ritchie failed to even make the match day squad.
Injuries soon ravaged the squad, though, and Newcastle's bench has been severely depleted for a while now. A core group of starters have been going again and again without always having a competitor breathing down their neck and Howe has rarely made use of his full complement of five substitutions.
However, despite the bench often being populated by goalkeepers, defenders and youngsters, remarkably, 14 goals have still been scored by Newcastle subs in the Premier League - which is more than any other side this season - and Barnes and Wilson have certainly played their part. Five of Barnes' six goal involvements for Newcastle have come as a substitute while a third of Wilson's goals this season have been as a replacement.
These are heavyweight options to have in reserve as opposition defences tire and Wilson and Barnes have scored 126 Premier League goals between them to date. Chris Wilder perhaps put it best. "They have the ability to switch," the Sheffield United boss said. "We don't have the ability to hang on."
That could yet prove significant as Newcastle hunt down Manchester United and there are crucial games against Burnley, Brighton, the Red Devils and Brentford to come in the run-in. These are likely to be tighter contests - it is hard to imagine Newcastle being quite so far ahead midway through the second half like they were on Saturday - and having game-changers on the bench could help secure a valuable result.
"The goal was one of many today," Wilson told NUFC TV. "Next game, it could be the winning goal or the equalising goal. All you can do is make sure that when you get an opportunity, you're as clinical as possible."
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