Newcastle United have 1927 reasons to prevent Carabao Cup hangover and secure Champions League football

Before anyone’s hangover kicked in, Eddie Howe was already back to work. This is the relentless toil, after all, that earned him the fervent support of the Newcastle United public.

Despite being drenched in champagne and surrounded by black-and-white pandemonium, the Toon boss was preparing for the Premier League run-in. A cup win solidified his St James’ Park legacy, with Howe now standing on the shoulders of giants, but the 10 remaining games - given Champions League qualification is up for grabs - are equally as important for Newcastle’s long-term mission to world domination.

He was keen to stress that importance amid the Carabao Cup celebrations on Saturday in a final message to supporters at the Town Moor. It is perhaps not surprising that Howe doubled down on those comments just 72 hours later.

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“We need to put what happened against Liverpool to the back of our minds and now really focus on the final 10 games,” Howe told reporters ahead of the Brentford clash. “(We have) 10 great opportunities to grab and try to turn our Premier League season into a memorable one as well as the cup final.

“Hopefully the lads are boosted and have renewed confidence. We've had a bit of time to absorb what happened in that game. Thankfully it was positive, but I think now we're ready to play again. I think we've be ready to play again for a while.”

Not only is Champions League the target - but Newcastle can claim their finest hour for almost a century. Hughie Gallacher captained - and top scored with an incredible 39 strikes across all competitions - the Toon heroes who last won the league title in 1927. To detour slightly, could poetry see Newcastle do the same again in 2027?

Back to the point, the Magpies lifted the FA Cup three times in the 1950s. All three achievements would rightly be considered greater than lifting this year’s League Cup.

However, the Champions League - or European Cup as it was formerly known - did not debut until three months after Newcastle’s 1955 triumph. The rigours of modern top-level football, with PSR multiplying the mountain the Magpies must climb, would propel 2024-25 above those Jackie Milburn-led years in terms of achievement.

That is a canny way, should Newcastle need it, to keep the motivation levels burning for the final 10 games. The Magpies must grasp the nettle and set up a summer of optimism on Tyneside.

PSR has governed Newcastle’s decision-making in recent windows but all the noises suggest the financial noose is beginning to loosen around their neck. Coupled with a new-found track record of success, proving they can reach the Champions League heights regularly would add another weapon to United’s arsenal when trying to attract stars.

There are no distractions therefore, there can be no excuses. This team is good enough to get over the line. The carrot is dangling in front of them - they have 10 games left to take a bite.

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