Newcastle’s 11/12 XI that finished fifth: Where are they now?

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Newcastle United are preparing for their return to the Premier League, and would surely love to emulate what the Magpies managed five years ago.

Ahead of Newcastle’s return to the Premier League, Rafa Benitez and the Magpies supporters will be wondering what the team are realistically capable of achieving in their first year back at the highest level.

With one of the best managers in the division at their disposal and a club stature that should help them attract some good players, it would hardly be a surprise if their targets appeared ambitious for a team that were playing in the Championship last season.

But could they be capable of emulating the 2011/12 team that finished fifth in the top flight? While that target must surely be out of reach at this stage, here is a look at the team that Alan Pardew selected on the final day of that campaign…

GK: Tim Krul

Tim Krul was enjoying the best spell of his Newcastle career around the time they finished fifth in the top flight. Though he remains at St James’ Park at the moment, his stock has fallen due to long-term injuries and the number of goalkeepers currently at Benitez’s disposal.

Newcastle’s Tim Krul

RB: James Perch

James Perch stayed with Newcastle until 2013, when he joined Wigan Athletic. He left the Latics for Queens Park Rangers two years later, where he remains to this day.

CB: Mike Williamson

Mike Williamson remained with the Magpies until 2016, though his Tyneside career was essentially over the previous year when then boss John Carver accused him of getting sent off on purpose (via BBC Sport). He joined Wolves in 2016 after a previous loan spell at Molineux and was released by the Championship side this summer.

CB: Fabricio Coloccini

Fabricio Coloccini was a fairly divisive figure during his time with Newcastle. He left St James’ Park after eight years in 2016 for San Lorenzo.

Fabricio Coloccini

LB: Davide Santon

Davide Santon’s first season at Newcastle could not have gone better as they finished fifth. Unfortunately, the remaining time he spent with the club was not as impressive, and he returned to Inter Milan in 2015.

RM: Jonas Gutierrez

Jonas Gutierrez spent seven seasons with Newcastle, scoring in his final game to help the club confirm their Premier League survival in 2015. The latter stages of the winger’s time with the club was all the more remarkable given that he had battled back from testicular cancer. He was released in acrimonious circumstances in 2015, and, after a spell in Spain, is now back in Argentina with Defensa y Justicia.

CM: Yohan Cabaye

Yohan Cabaye remained a key part of the Newcastle squad until he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2014. After a short stint in France, he returned to the Premier League, signing for Crystal Palace.

Cheick Tiote

CM: Cheick Tiote

The football world was left in mourning recently with the tragic news that Cheick Tiote had passed away at the age of just 30. He will forever be remembered for that stunning goal in the 4-4 draw with Arsenal, as well as his brilliantly-everlasting tenacity out on a football pitch.

He will definitely never be forgotten by the Newcastle supporters and by the rest of the football family.

LM: Hatem Ben Arfa

Hatem Ben Arfa appeared to have all the talent in the world, but only occasionally got round to showing it. After a loan spell with Hull, he returned to France to join Nice, before joining Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Papiss Cisse (L) celebrates with Demba Ba

ST: Demba Ba

After a fairly prolific spell with Newcastle, Demba Ba moved to Chelsea in 2013. After a spell with Besiktas, he moved to the Chinese Super League where he suffered a horrific injury.

ST: Papiss Cisse

The signing of Papiss Cisse seemed to be masterstroke when he scored 13 times in his first 14 games for the Magpies in 2012 – including a goal of the season contender against Chelsea. Unfortunately, in the following four seasons, his best tally for a single campaign was 11 league goals. He left Newcastle for the Chinese Super League in 2016.