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Lee Ryder

Eddie Howe has laid down challenge to his Newcastle players with Spurs and Liverpool on the chase

Eddie Howe has insisted that he never even contemplated whether Newcastle United could finish in the top four when drawing up his plans at the start of the season.

Howe made it clear at the start of term that the aims of the squad would remain in-house, but head into game 23 of the campaign knowing they could be holding on to a Champions League slot. With a decisive game against Liverpool coming up, Howe will instead focus on the demands of training this week and is refusing to get ahead of himself.

Howe said: "I didn't really have those thoughts to be honest. It was just about starting the season as well as we could.

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