Newcastle United are back in the big time and former Magpies defender Mike Williamson knows a thing or two about what playing in Europe means for the club. Newcastle's last UEFA jaunt saw them knocked out of the Europa League in the quarter-finals by Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, a game Williamson feels the north east outfit could have won.
"We knew, on any given night, if we played to the best of our ability, it could be on," he told Chronicle Live. But it wasn't to be for Alan Pardew's men as the Portuguese outfit made sure not to throw away their 3-1 first-leg deficit when they came to St James' Park.
Now, it is Eddie Howe's turn to try and navigate both a European and domestic campaign. Key men in the St James' Park dressing room believe last season was a not a flash in the pan and the table isn't showing a false result but this upcoming campaign will test Newcastle's durability.
