Dietmar Hamman has backed his former club Newcastle United to secure Champions League football this season. Competing in and around the top four has whet Toon supporters’ appetite for European football - an occasion they have not witnessed since 2013.
In fact, Newcastle fans have been starved of Champions League action altogether for two decades. Sir Bobby Robson was the last man to qualify for UEFA’s elite competition, losing to Partizan Belgrade almost 20 years ago in the third qualifying round.
However, the Magpies are now in pole position to regain their seat among Europe’s elite. Qualifying for the Champions League would hypercharge the Saudi-backed takeover, allowing United chiefs more wriggle room with Financial Fair Play regulations.