Newcastle United can clinch their place in the Champions League for the 2023/24 season against Leicester City this evening - but once it's in the bag things will be very different to the last time it happened at St James' Park.
Back then it was a slender 1-0 victory over Birmingham City that assured the Magpies had booked their place at Europe's top table thanks to a swirling free-kick from Hugo Viana. There were celebrations from the fans but relief at boardroom level with Newcastle knowing they had to pay off a £55million loan to pay for ground expansions in the early Noughties.
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