Eddie Howe continued his refusal to discuss the possibility of playing in the Champions League - but admits that European qualification would lead to a change in approach.
A quick look at West Ham's campaign shows under pressure David Moyes' still fending off the threat of relegation in the Premier League with their Europa Conference League commitments proving a strain on resources. That proved to be the case for Newcastle a decade ago when their run to the Europa League, ended by Benfica in the last eight, coincided with a near brush against the drop with safety only assured on the penultimate day of the season.
When asked about West Ham's fortunes and any potential plans for Newcastle to avoid such issues next term, Howe said: "I think I will refer any questions on Europe to when we – or if we – are able to achieve that aim. But your question is relevant in terms of the struggles and the dynamic that changes with the extra competition."
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Howe and his team continue their bid to push for the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur with home fixtures against Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and finally Leicester City to come. Howe believes that form at St James' Park will have a big impact on whether Newcastle make the top four or not.
The ex-Bournemouth boss said: "It's certainly going to have a huge bearing. As you say, we've got, if I'm right, five games at home, and our home form has been really strong, so we'd love that to continue.
"There's no guarantee because we've got really tough fixtures to come, so it's going to be a really good challenge for us to get the points that we need. I'm looking forward to those games."
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