THE Frenchman, a lucky new haircut and a special edition of The Journal – all in a days work for this barber. Yohan Cabaye took time out from getting his short back and sides – with a “quiff on top” – to sign copies of our special edition, Le Journal, heralding the club’s French revolution.

But for Patrick Forster, who for the past decade has become known as the go-to barber for Premier League footballers in the region, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Newcastle fan Patrick, who opened Patrick Forster Barber and Shop in Newcastle last September, said: “Yohan came in at the weekend and loved the Le Journal special edition.

“He thought it was excellent. That’s the thing about Newcastle, we are a friendly city and everywhere you go we are going to be talking about football.

“He came in and signed copies of the paper for fans and has said he’ll sign a copy personally to the highest bidder when we auction it off for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

Known for his work styling and chopping the locks of footballers, Patrick was left to create a style of his choice when Cabaye came in ahead of United’s win over Southampton.

With the short back and sides, quiff on top and section cut away from the front, the style he left with could have the men of Newcastle soon asking for the “Cabaye”.

Patrick, 30, who used to work for salon Mops in Newcastle and Saks in Dubai, added: “Sitting down, he told me ‘I have confidence in you’, so the pressure was on.

“I’ve been cutting the hair of Newcastle United players for a long time and also some Sunderland players. I used to go to their houses, but since I’ve opened the shop they come in like other customers. Whenever a new player joins the team, others recommend they come to me. It is all very relaxed and they don’t get special treatment, no more than any other customer, and I think that’s what they like.

“When I first started it was great as I’d be cutting the hair of the guys I’d been watching on the field as a Newcastle supporter, but I don’t get star struck, they’re just normal guys.

“It seems that after they’ve had their haircut players go on to score in their next match, that’s what happened with Sunderland’s Steve Fletcher.”

And yesterday, fresh from the barber’s chair, Cabaye carried on the tradition, scoring from the penalty spot in the second half against Southampton as the team went on to win 4-2.

With a string of players who have graced his chair, including Robbie Elliot and former player Xisco, Patrick is keen to have a go at manager Alan Pardew.

Patrick said: “I was asked the other day who the biggest VIP I’d had in the chair was and I said it was the last person who sat in it. No one is singled out for special treatment. I’ve cut Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce’s hair and would like to get my hands on Alan Pardew. He has a dapper style that I like.”

When he has got a top player in the shop it is business as usual, chatting about what they’ve been doing and good places in the city to eat and visit.

But one topic is never discussed. “Where they’re going on their holidays.” says Patrick. “That question is banned in my barbers, for everyone.”

To find out more about the signed Le Journal auction visit www.twitter.com/PFBarberAndShop