Ian Wright wants Newcastle players to step up to ‘unbelievable opportunity’

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United have an incredible opportunity to qualify for the Champions League, and Ian Wright does not want them to waste it.

Former Arsenal striker Wright has been speaking on the Kelly And Wright Show, and believes Newcastle‘s players need to step up for the remaining 13 games.

The Magpies got back to winning ways on Sunday, beating Wolves 2-1 thanks to Miguel Almiron’s 79th minute strike. It ended a disappointing run of three consecutive defeats, and lifts Eddie Howe’s side back into fifth ahead of Liverpool.

Newcastle are now four points behind Tottenham, who occupy the final Champions League place. However, we have two games in hand that could allow us to leapfrog Antonio Conte’s team.

The win against Wolves should put us back on track after a tough few weeks, and we are now firmly back in the race to finish in the top four. We have an incredible opportunity to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, and Wright wants the Magpies to seize it.

Ian Wright says Newcastle must simply go for it

Following the 2-1 win over Wolves, the pundit has spoke about Newcastle’s European ambition on the latest episode of The Kelly And Wrighty Show.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for Newcastle,” Wright said.

“They would not be expecting this. They’d have been happy to be in and around 10th to sixth, then kick on, see what they do in the summer.

“But for them to be here, they might as well go for it now. That’s why they need their players to recognise where they are and step themselves up a bit.”

Wright is right about Champions League bid

Whether Newcastle finish fourth or sixth, it has still been a brilliant campaign. We have performed well above expectation.

At the start of the season, the ambition was to finish in the top half and enjoy a cup run. We will certainly do the former, and have already achieved the latter by getting to the Carabao Cup final. Sadly that ended in defeat.

But there can still be a happy ending to this season if we qualify for Europe, and there would be unbridled joy if it meant returning to the Champions League.

As Wright says, this is an incredible opportunity. We have been lucky that Liverpool and Chelsea have been so poor, and that has created an opening for us to challenge for the top four. There are no guarantees that they will struggle as much next season.

That is why it is imperative that Newcastle go for it and do all they can to qualify for the Champions League. There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be drilling that message into his players, and it is up to them to rise to the challenge.