Newcastle United fans won't get carried away by this season's top-four push, even if the Magpies qualify for the Champions League, says John Barnes. The former England and Liverpool star, who had a spell on Tyneside near the end of his playing career, feels finishing in the Premier League top four would be a 'huge achievemen'.
But despite the added profile playing in Europe's elite competition will bring to side, not to mention the financial benefits, Barnes doesn't expect the club or its supporters to get ahead of themselves just yet. After beating the battle with relegation last season, few expected Newcastle to hit the heights they have achieved so far this term.
And even though they could still finish third in the top flight this year, Barnes says expectations of future success will not rocket around St James' Park.
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"Newcastle haven’t had Champions League for a while and it would be a huge achievement," he told MyBettingSites. "It would be great. The fans have been starved of success and they’ve been loyal. I’m glad for the fans because they stuck by Newcastle through thick and thin.
“What will their expectations be? Finishing higher than third or fourth? The expectations won’t be to finish first or second. They will be looking to have a similar season to the one they had this.
“I doubt Newcastle fans will be expecting to compete with Manchester City next season or to beat Arsenal. Newcastle have to maintain the consistency they’ve shown which will be much harder next season.”
Newcastle can take a big step towards a guaranteed top four finish by beating Brighton at St James' Park on Thursday night, before relegation-threatened Leicester City head to the North East on Monday night.
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