Ashley could become the owner club is crying out for

MAY I send a heartfelt message to Mike Ashley.

It is this: it won’t take an awful lot to turn Newcastle United into a Premier League side chasing Europe next season so why not support Rafa?

Instead of ignoring him, isolating him, why not join in and enjoy it for a change?

Why not engage with the manager, show some ambition and pride, and become an owner of something truly worthwhile.

Rafa has already put in firm foundations. All it needs is a bit more building.

First and foremost United need a goalscorer. That is going to be Ashley’s biggest outlay if he wants the job done properly. Get the right man and with a young squad getting better by the season with experience plus a couple of additions things will look rosy. United are going to finish this season with a top goalscorer in single figures. That is the biggest problem needing rectifying. Give us a natural finisher and the whole world will open up. It isn’t going to be Aleksandar Mitrovic who Rafa doesn’t trust, it isn’t going to be Dwight Gayle who I think suffers from a mental block at this level, it isn’t going to be Joselu for many reasons, and it doesn’t look so far that it is going to be Islam Slimani though the jury is still out.

So the transfer market is the only answer using the Mitro money and a decent dollop from Ashley.

We suffered a dip in performance at Everton where I felt a few players looked mentally exhausted but it has still been a marvellous 2018 and I urge the players to finish it on a high, especially at home.

There are only two games left at home so let the team reward the fans for their loyalty and devotion by putting on a bit of style against West Bromwich today, and Chelsea on the final day of the Premier League season.

Albion won’t be easy because they have improved since the departure of Alan Pardew but they are still bottom of the table and won’t live with Newcastle if the Mags show the attitude, work-rate, and desire of recent weeks. As for Chelsea they play up here on May 13 a week before the FA Cup final, so should have other things on their mind. I hope Rafa doesn’t tinker with the team too much today because it would be nice to put on a performance. If he wishes to give fringe players an outing let him do it at Watford. We have seen a few partnerships really blossom as the season has progressed – Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune at the heart of the defence, Mo Diame and Jonjo Shelvey centre midfield, but we still need the right partnership up top even though Ayoze Perez and Gayle have given their all. Have a think about it Mike Ashley _ and then act. For everyone’s sake, including your own. SuperMac