Former Newcastle United ‘Entertainers’ star makes exciting Europe claim

Former Newcastle United star Warren Barton believes Magpies supporters ‘might be getting ready to get their passports out again’ as his old club push for a return to European competition.

Eddie Howe’s side have made an impressive start to the season and were sat in third place when the Premier League season was brought to a halt by the World Cup Finals. Following last season’s successful battle against relegation, a push for the top ten seemed to be the height of expectations ahead of the current campaign.

But with summer signings like Nick Pope and Sven Botman settling in with ease, United have lost just one of their opening 15 league games of the season to thrust themselves into contention for return to European competition after a decade-long absence. The league is not their only possible route into Europe, with Howe’s attentions now focused on planning for the Carabao Cup fourth round home tie against his former club Bournemouth on the horizon, as well as an FA Cup third round visit to Sheffield Wednesday in the first week of January.

Excitement is building ahead of United’s return to action later this month and former Magpies star Barton has praised the work undertaken by Howe and revealed his delight at the return of hope and ambition at St James Park.

He told Sky Sports News: “Eddie Howe, the owners, the players, the fans, all they have ever wanted is so compete. They being the fans and have some fun. I am really happy, I’m happy for the people up there because it means so much for them. They’re just loving it, they’re enjoying it. Everyone I speak to, and I was with Stuart Pearce last night, an ex-Newcastle and England player, and he said he did a game up there and the atmosphere is fantastic. That’s what they want.

“They want to walk into St James Park, have some fun, cheer their team on and then have celebrate afterwards. Eddie Howe has done a wonderful job, the players have taken on board and hopefully we keep going. I’m not getting too carried away with Champions League but you never know, we might be getting ready to get our passports out again.”

Newcastle will round off their preparations for a return to competitive action with a home friendly against La Liga club Rayo Vallecano next Saturday lunchtime.