Newcastle’s European fate set to be sealed
It is not quite make or break but there is a lot riding on the final week of the season for Newcastle United.
Europe – whether it is the Europa League or the Conference League – is within their grasp but two away day examinations of their mettle await over the next six days, first at direct rivals Manchester United before concluding the season at Brentford. Even allowing for Saturday’s underwhelming draw with Brighton, they know if they win both sixth is theirs.
After a difficult, bruising season at St James’ Park that would be every bit as impressive as the fourth place that brought Champions League football 12 months ago.
“If you look at the course of the season and the setbacks we’ve had, the ups and downs, to be in the position we’re in is unbelievable,” Kieran Trippier told i.
Trippier – back from injury for a short cameo on Saturday ahead of a likely start at Old Trafford on Wednesday – was the first signing of the new era, a sign that Newcastle were intent on competing. He knows the symbolic and financial importance of ensuring they are annual fixtures in European competition.
“With the way the club is going you need to be in Europe, you need to be competing at the top of the table. It’s massive,” he said. “We’ve got to be honest, we’ve got to be realistic as well – we are ahead of schedule but that comes with expectation, it comes with pressure, we’ve got to deal with that as players.
“We’ve got a great squad and if that squad was fully fit, I think you look at the first game of the season and me personally I think it would have been a different season. But there were always going to be injuries this season but I think ours have been ridiculous.”
If they fail to get there it will be those issues that will be the focus of the end of season summit planned after they return from an ill-advised but lucrative post-season trip to Australia.