Not content with getting past Birmingham at the first time of asking at St Andrews, Newcastle decided on doing things the hard way in the FA Cup third round.
And now the squad will be tested to the limit with a replay on Wednesday week as the walking wounded are asked to keep moving forward.
However, what a chance United have to reach the last 16 after drawing Burnley or Reading in the fourth round should they get past Birmingham.
If the draw continues to be this kind by the time fifth round day comes injuries may be gone, new signings may be on board and who knows?
Michael Owen might get an additional game he wasn't expecting before the season is out in May.
But let's not get carried away.
It has to be said that United are exceeding their own and fans' expectations at the moment due to the injury trouble at St James' Park which has merely exposed just how wafer thin the squad actually is.
But after giving themselves the perfect platform to see off Championship form side Birmingham they threw away a guaranteed fourth round place against Steve Bruce's side and earned an extra game nobody really wanted.
At one point the travelling Toon fans would have snapped your hand off if you'd offered them a draw following a great start from the home side that saw them 1-0 up through DJ Campbell before Fabrice Muamba almost doubled the lead.
The only reason that didn't happen was Steven Taylor who somehow cleared off the line in a moment that could be looked back on with relief if United make the latter stages.
Taylor of course then equalised against the 10 men of Birmingham who had Radhi Jaidi sent off later to swing the game into United's favour.
Taylor proved to be a real hero for United and even showed the compassion to lift the head of Paul Huntington in the first half with teenager enduring the worst of his games so far in the first team.
Kieron Dyer's goal then should have been the beginning of the end but failure to kill the game off let in Seb Larsson to equalise late on and force the replay.
Glenn Roeder - who took a training session last week with four senior players - must be wondering what he has done to deserve this with the replay swelling the fixture list even more.
With the transfer window coming up and players linked with moves in and out of the club the question is can United really afford to let players go right now?
Especially as one of the subs, Kazenga LuaLua at just 16, would have been the next man to step off the bench had anymore players went down with injury.
Have you ever known anything like it?
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