Darren Bent believes Newcastle United are ‘better’ than being happy with a top 10 finish this term. Even though Eddie Howe still refuses to contemplate them getting into Europe.
The Magpies return to Premier League action at Leicester City on Boxing Day following the World Cup break. They will also remain in the top four of the table no matter their result at the King Power Stadium next Monday. A win could even move the Toon into second place.
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Newcastle entered the mid-season break third in the standings with 30 points in 15 games. They are just two points behind Manchester City for second. But the defending champions do not play until next Wednesday away to Leeds United and already have a game in hand.
Manchester United, meanwhile, host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday striving to close their gap to the top four. The Red Devils sit three points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fourth on 26 points from 14 games. So, even a win and a Toon defeat will see Newcastle stay ahead.
Howe had overseen a stellar season so far at St James’ Park before the top-flight hit pause for Qatar 2022. The Magpies and leaders Arsenal are the only teams to suffer just one top-flight defeat this term. Newcastle’s haul of eight wins are also the joint-fourth most so far.
Darren Bent believes Newcastle’s form can get them into Europe this season
Bent firmly believes the form Newcastle produced before the World Cup suggests they can get into Europe this season. The Toon have not qualified for a UEFA competition since Alan Pardew guided the Tyneside natives into the Europa League quarter-finals during 2012/13.
“They’ve got massive support and you talk about a trophy, I think it would be fantastic,” Bent told talkSPORT. “If they were to finish fifth or sixth in the Premier League and win a trophy, that would be fantastic for the club.
“They’d probably be happy with a top-10 finish but I think they’re better than that. When you look at how consistent Newcastle have been under Howe this season, for them to finish tenth something would have to go drastically wrong somewhere.
“I think they’re good enough to finish in the top five or six and win a trophy this season.”
Can Eddie Howe take the Magpies back into a European competition this term?
Newcastle finished fifth in the 2011/12 Premier League season to get into Europe for their most recent UEFA adventure. Since then, the Magpies have only taken two top 10 finishes with 10th place in 2013/14 and again in 2017/18. They also endured relegation in 2015/16.
Howe can now guide Newcastle back into Europe by finishing the 2022/23 Premier League term as low as sixth for a Europa League spot. Seventh place could also go into the Europa Conference League if the EFL Cup and FA Cup winners also qualify for a UEFA tournament.
Yet Howe is not considering getting Newcastle into Europe despite their strong start to the Premier League season. The Toon boss continued to state, via the Independent, before the World Cup that ‘I don’t know about that’ when questioned on the subject of UEFA football.
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