Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Darlington and Hartlepool were all celebrating wins on Saturday, and while Sunderland didn't pick up all three points against Bristol City, they at least responded to Monday's humiliation at home to Blackburn.

Here's this week's North-East Notes:

Howe's response to keeper links

It's by no means the most pressing priority but Newcastle's goalkeeper department will likely require attention this summer, with Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie both approaching the end of their deals and Martin Dubravka set to move into the last year of his contract.

The Magpies have been linked with a string of stoppers in the last couple of weeks, with Aaron Ramsdale emerging as a target, according to one national newspaper - a surprising link given Nick Pope's excellence when fit.

More likely is United looking to bring in a deputy, with Bayern Munich's Alexander Nubel - who has impressed on loan at Stuttgart this season - and Middlesbrough's Seny Dieng two players reportedly on Newcastle's radar.

But there was a cutting response from head coach Eddie Howe when the links with several goalkeepers were put to him in this week's press conference.

"I've got no idea with the players we've been linked with," he said.

"Lee (Marshall, head of media) does run a few names by me and some I don't even know. I wouldn't read too much into that."

Boro youngster's impressive comeback

It's been great to see Pharrell Willis back in the Boro first team mix in the last few weeks.

Michael Carrick's eyes were quickly drawn to the young winger after his appointment as head coach at the back end of 2022 and within weeks of his arrival, Willis had made his senior debut from the bench in the win at Blackpool last season. That was quickly followed by a new contract, with Carrick saying: "He plays with that spark, that freedom, he's had a good attitude."

The 21-year-old then suffered a bad knee injury at the start of the year and was sidelined for more than 12 months- but made an instant impact on his return. Willis registered an assist and then scored a stunning stoppage time winner against Newcastle in his first game back for the Under-21s and was then named on the bench for Boro's games Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.

From London, Willis was a Martin Carter-find and joined at 16. He experienced the highs in his memorable breakthrough week at Boro but it's great to see him bounce back from the low of his injury struggle.

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Credit to O'Nien

Fair play to Luke O'Nien, who fronted up and spoke to the media in the aftermath of Monday's hammering at home to Blackburn.

Silence helps nobody and supporters deserve to hear from the dressing room after a performance and defeat as dismal as Sunderland's, but it can't be easy for a player to come out and try and make sense of such a shocking showing when emotions are still running high.

O'Nien cares. He loves the club and the area and knows what it means to supporters, so his words carry weight.

"From the younger players to myself as one of the older players, man for man, we were not good enough at any age," said the skipper.

"There was far more to that than being a young group.

"There were so many things wrong which are the non-negotiables that you should just do, and we didn’t. There was too much wrong.”

Two hours after full-time, O'Nien was still stood outside the Stadium of Light signing autographs. He didn't shirt his responsibilities after the most difficult of afternoons. Credit to him.

Return at Pools

Ronnie Moore is back at Hartlepool United.

The 71-year-old masterminded the great escape when he led Pools to League Two survival in 2015 and has now returned to the club as chief scout. He'll also, say the club, form a "key part of the decision making when signing players for the first team".

Moore said: "It's fantastic to be back at Hartlepool and I'm really looking forward to it. I've never forgotten my time at Pools - I had a few promotions in my career, but that survival feeling was one of the best emotions I've ever felt. The supporters were extraordinary and I’m passionate about this club. I want to see it back where it belongs.

“Often as a manager I would scout players myself, but I’m really looking forward to being able to solely focus on recruitment, giving it my full time and attention. We've got a list of targets to look at for the summer and it's important to get some winning players into the squad."