Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes a top eight finish and a run in either the Carabao or FA Cup would represent a magnificent season on Tyneside for Newcastle United.
The Magpies turned their campaign around last season, going from relegation favourites in 2021 to an 11th placed finish come May 2022. Eddie Howe and co transformed Newcastle, with the Magpies going on a stellar run of form during the second half of the season, finishing it as one of the in-form sides in the Premier League.
The dramatic turnaround has brought about lofty expectations from some. Certainly, the hype around St James' Park is currently at an all-time recent high.
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However, Newcastle fans are not deluded. They know that in order to become eventual Premier League title challengers, the club must continue to build, grow and improve season after season.
One of the ways Newcastle could look to build is by delivering domestic trophy success to Tyneside. The FA and Carabao Cup are competitions the previous ownership of Newcastle deemed a distraction.
And speaking on talkSPORT, Parlour reckons a cup run and a top eight finish would be a tremendous achievement for Newcastle as they look to build upon their strong finish from the previous campaign.
"It could be a Man City. It took three or four years to start bringing the players in, got the right manager," Parlour said.
"I think Eddie Howe will get an opportunity now but I think a cup run is going to be important for Newcastle. Imagine them getting to Wembley and winning the FA Cup. That would be magnificent for the club so I reckon top eight for Newcastle next season and a good cup run.
"Leicester done it, they won the league. You want to see people challenging. It gets boring if you know its going to be Liverpool or Man City, I don't know in what order but they'll be the first two. We want to see people trying to topple them over. It might be another Leicester, who knows.
"There could be another Leicester around but Newcastle for me, if you can get top eight and a good cup run and then build again, then it'll be top six and then suddenly you're getting that squad together - then it'll be top four. That's what they'll be aiming for.
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