Former Newcastle United midfielder makes exciting claim on return of European nights

Former Newcastle United midfielder Lee Bowyer has backed his old club to remain in the top six this season.

The Magpies returned from the World Cup break on Tuesday night when they progressed into the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup with a narrow win over Premier League rivals Bournemouth. The competition not only provides Eddie Howe’s side with an opportunity to end the club’s wait for domestic silverware, but also gives them a potential route into European competition, with the winner granted entry into next season’s Europa Conference League.

But Newcastle have already made impressive progress in their bid to bring European nights back to St James Park with their fine league form. Howe’s men have lost just one of their 15 league games and currently sit in third place in the table ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Leicester City.

Bowyer knows all about competing in Europe in a black and white shirt after making 11 appearances in the UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup after spending just under three years on Tyneside after joining the Magpies on a free transfer in the summer of 2003.

The former Leeds United and Birmingham City insisted Newcastle can return to European competition this season and revealed his admiration for the role Howe has played in the club’s remarkable improvement over the last 12 months.

He told talkSPORT: “Yes, I say they’ll stay in the top six.

“The way Eddie and Jason have done it is very, very good. I think they way they’ve spent the money wisely, they’ve not gone for crazy superstars because I am guessing the money is there for them to do that. I think the way they’ve said this is the type of personality they need at this club, knowing Newcastle the way I do, you need to be a certain person to handle the pressures of up there.

“It is different pressure with 50,000 no matter what. Whether you’re in the Championship or Premier League, they are there and they demand that you give everything for that shirt. So I think they players they have brought in, they’ve been very wise, good additions to the squad and improved them slowly but surely. I think in the next few years they will be a big force, but I think it’s good to see that club moving in that direction. They can get back in Europe because when I was there they were playing in Europe and if they can get back into those sort of times, that would be great.”