Toon will lift trophy if they come second

THERE will be an end-of-season trophy presentation at St James’ Park if Newcastle win promotion – even if they finish second behind Brighton.

The Seagulls can clinch promotion today by beating relegation-threatened Wigan – and they currently sit four points above Newcastle, who were denied by a 96th-minute Leeds leveller on Good Friday.

They are now firm favourites to win the league and lift the historic Football League trophy – which is one of the oldest trophies in the world. Designed for the 1890/1 season, it is known as the ‘Old Lady’ and was last in United’s possession in 2010.

But even if United miss out on winning the league, they will be presented with a smaller trophy on the final day – and all the members of the squad will be handed runners-up medals for their efforts in the promotion campaign.

Middlesbrough lifted the trophy for finishing in second place at a jubilant Riverside last May after defeating Brighton on the final day of the season.

It actually caused some controversy because Burnley, who won the league on the final day of the season at Charlton, were not given a presentation because the EFL decided it was inappropriate for away teams to lift the trophy following problems for Bournemouth the previous year. Ex-United midfielder Joey Barton mocked Boro’s “little trophy” at the time.

There has been some debate about whether finishing runners-up would be considered a failure for United but promotion is the only thing that matters to Newcastle now. They need seven points from the final four games to make sure of promotion.