Newcastle boss Eddie Howe's 'can't answer truly' response that should worry the Premier League

Eddie Howe has admitted that it is up to Newcastle United to continue to 'prove' that the era of the big six is over - and that they now belong amongst the Premier League's elite.

With just five games to go, Newcastle are flying in third place and on course to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2003. If Newcastle manage to get over the line, the Magpies will be the first side since Leicester City to upset the established order.

Although Leicester only had a single season at Europe's top table, after winning the Premier League in 2016, Newcastle have the backing to not only seriously strengthen once again this summer but, also, hold onto their key players. That makes this a very different threat to the hegemony that the top-flight's traditional big hitters have enjoyed for years now.

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In fact, even this season, Newcastle have picked up 15 points in games against Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea and Howe was not shy in declaring the black-and-whites' 'aim is to try and catch and overtake everybody' ahead of title-chasing Arsenal coming to St James' Park on Sunday. However, rather than condemning the big six to the past with his words, Howe wants his side to continue to prove they belong at the top with their performances on the pitch - which is ominous for Newcastle's rivals.

"I don't know if I can ever answer that truly because I always think it's there for us to prove," he told reporters. "People will label teams, try and bracket them and put them in certain groups. For me, it doesn't mean anything.

"Every season you have to fight for where you end up and if we can consistently be in the top positions in the league then, maybe, you guys might bracket us as something. I'm not going to do that at this moment in time."

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