The Paul Merson verdict Newcastle United fans will actually love

Pundit Paul Merson has backed Newcastle United to qualify for Europe this season. The former Arsenal man has also praised the club’s recruitment since their takeover last year.

Eddie Howe has done an impressive job since taking over the North East club and his side have made an impressive start to this current Premier League campaign. The Toon Army are currently 4th in the table having picked up 21 points from their opening 12 games.

They have only lost once so far and are starting to turn their early draws into wins now. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away last time out. Newcastle have certainly impressed Merson and he has written in his Daily Star column:

“There’s no reason why Newcastle can’t go all the way and qualify for Europe this season. I have been so impressed with how they’ve approached the takeover. They haven’t started splashing loads of money because they have a lorry-load of cash. It’s been sensible business and steady progress. As soon as you sign someone for £80million the players that have been there will go ‘well, what about us, how much is he on?’

“The recruitment has been excellent. You only have to look at Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier, who have both been outstanding. Eddie Howe has got something about him. He let me come into one of his team meetings down at Bournemouth a few years ago and I was so impressed with the message he got across to his players.

He added: “Miguel Almiron has been brilliant this season and that’s where you see good, good managers. When they improve players. Who knows what can happen? It’s a season like no other. Arsenal got slaughtered by Leeds in the second half and they can’t seem to win a football match.”

Unlike all the other teams around them near the top of the table, Newcastle don’t have the distraction of being in Europe this term so can solely focus on the league which will only help their chances. Howe’s men are back in action this weekend at home to Aston Villa.

Villa make the trip up north having appointed Unai Emery as their new boss to replace Steven Gerrard. They will also be in a confident mood after beating Brentford 4-0 in their last match.