£20m Newcastle player admits he’d be ‘disappointed’ if they qualified for Europa League this season

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Callum Wilson has said on The Footballer’s Football podcast that it would ‘almost be disappointing’ if Newcastle United were to secure a place in next year’s Europa League.

Newcastle are currently sat in the upper echelons in the table and all of a sudden talk of the Magpies qualifying for the Champions League has emerged.

Nearly a third of the way through the Premier League season, the Magpies impressively sit fourth in the league table having gained 21 points from their opening 12 games.

Eddie Howe’s side have won four and drew two of their last six fixtures; in the process of which, they have established themselves as a fierce competitor in the race to secure European football.

With Chelsea and Manchester United tantalisingly close behind and with Liverpool bringing up the rear in eighth, the Tyneside outfit have a genuine opportunity at pushing for Champions League qualification.

Having last featured continentally in the Europa League back in 2012/13, European qualification would illustrate a huge signal of intent for the club going forward.

Callum Wilson drops Champions League verdict

But Wilson has spoken of his desire to lead the line for the Magpies in the Champions League as the competition remains the highest standard of world football.

Taking to The Footballer’s Football Podcast, the £20 million striker claimed: “I’d take any European football! I’ll play anything, but Champions League is miles better than Europa!

“I’m almost like if you’re going to get in the Europa, I’d be disappointed because it means that the Champions League was close!

“It’s almost like you get into the Europa because you’ve missed out on the Champions League. If we’re going to get European football, then I’d like it to be the Champions League.”

With big-money signings including the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman, Newcastle’s much-improved squad has certainly demonstrated the quality needed to be capable of competing with the ‘Big Six’ as they look towards a top-four finish.

With players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak expected to be fit and flying by the time the World Cup has concluded, Howe will be hoping his squad does not sustain any further injuries as they look to embark upon European qualification.