Glenn Roeder will come face to face with his top close-season target when Newcastle United go to The Riverside Stadium to take on Middlesbrough on Sunday.
The United boss made no secret of the fact that Robert Huth was the man he wanted in the summer to bolster the centre of his defence.
But after signing Damien Duff and Oba Martins there wasn't enough in the kitty to match Boro's £6m offer to Chelsea.
And the German international will now be playing against United on Sunday, possibly alongside Jonathan Woodgate.
And to add to Roeder's frustration he was at The Riverside last Saturday when Huth made his Boro debut in the win over Everton and had to listen to the home supporters chanting their new defender's name.
But Roeder was a lot happier last night as his central defensive duo of Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage, paired together for the first time, helped United to their first clean sheet in six games.
However, just what defensive line-up Roeder will have on Sunday remains to be seen, while there has to be a chance that Pavel Srnicek will be in goal for Steve Harper.
Celestine Babayaro's three-match ban is now over and he should have recovered from his groin injury, but United have never been able to rely on the former Nigerian international.
Someone they have been able to rely on is Emre, but Roeder admitted that the Turkish international is doubtful for Sunday after coming off with back trouble last night.
