Pundit issues ‘big’ Newcastle claim after critical development
Frank McAvennie has urged Newcastle United to focus all of their attention on the League Cup.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker has no doubts Newcastle will have European football next season.
Eddie Howe’s side booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win over Leicester City last week 10 January.
Eddie Howe’s were eliminated from the FA Cup just three days earlier after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
As quoted by Sky Sports after the game, Howe said it was a “disappointing result” for his side and said they were “desperate” to win the game.
The Magpies’ last domestic trophy was in 1955 when they won the FA Cup.
The top four teams in the English Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 season will secure a place in the Champions League.
But McAvennie urged the Magpies to focus on their pursuit of a trophy first and foremost.
“They are in the semi-final of the cup now,” he told Football Insider.
“They have got a big chance of winning the League Cup. The fans will want them to win because they have not won anything for years.
“They are not going to win the league this year. I would tell them to put everything into this cup. They should still push for Champions League and even if they do not get that they will get Europe.“
In other news, a pundit has suggested Newcastle United may be ‘losing patience’ with Allan Saint-Maximin after injury update.