Newcastle United's Champions League fate remains firmly in their own hands and they can ensure they have a healthy buffer in the top four with victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night.
The Magpies won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season in a fixture that put them on track for Premier League survival. But so much has changed since that narrow win over the Seagulls last March.
Relegation battles have been swapped for a European push, but Eddie Howe has maintained the same cool outlook during both different situations. Newcastle will face a Brighton team who have just picked up an outstanding away win at Arsenal on Super Sunday.
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The 3-0 win not only bolstered their top six place but it kept alive slim chances of playing in the Champions League given the Seagulls have two games in hand. Looking ahead to Newcastle, striker Danny Welbeck said: "It shows the character of the dressing room to come here, play out from the back and be brave on the ball. It’s not easy to show that courage so credit to everyone – it’s a great day for the club but everyone is now looking forward to another big match at Newcastle on Thursday and we can’t wait to go.
We will dust ourselves down and go again."
The sell out clash at St James' Park could see Eddie Howe's Newcastle put themselves on the brink of the Champions League. Welbeck spoke of Brighton's own motivations, speaking to the Brighton website he said: "We’re not in Europe yet and we will have to do our utmost to reach our goals. But as a group, we’ve got a great mentality. We stick together. We’re now thinking about a big game at St James’ Park on Thursday so let’s go!"
