At the start of the season, Newcastle United fans were dreaming of a return to Europe.
After agonisingly missing out last year, the belief was that, with no more distractions and fewer injuries, Newcastle United could very much challenge for a place in Europe.
Alan Shearer said Newcastle could finish in the top four, but only if Marc Guehi joined the club from Crystal Palace.
Former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling also predicted Newcastle to finish in the top four. However, he has already changed his mind after three Premier League games.
Stelling no longer thinks Newcastle can get in the Champions League, with a small squad and a lack of investment massively hindering their chances.
No major signings for Newcastle United this summer
The lack of investment comes from Paul Mitchell, who failed to make a major signing during his first summer as Newcastle United’s sporting director.
Mitchell believed he could sign Marc Guehi, only for that deal to collapse. Crystal Palace upped their price to £75million, which was too much for the Magpies to pay.
Elsewhere, Newcastle failed to sign Anthony Elanga on deadline day as well.
Paul Mitchell makes Newcastle United prediction
Despite no major signings arriving at St James’ Park this summer, Mitchell still believes that Eddie Howe’s side is good enough to get back into Europe.
That is what he has told the Telegraph, stating that European football is a ‘realistic’ ambition for Newcastle United this season.
“With the current quality of individuals we have and collective experience, with the current quality of head coach we have, should we be getting into Europe in some context this year? I think that is a realistic ambition, I do,” he said.
“Because I think we are a good team and we have an excellent head coach who will be with us on this journey for a long time.
“I think last year there were a lot of different contributing factors that still need to be assessed [number of injuries and extra games in Europe].
“There were a lot of different challenges that this club for a long time hadn’t faced before, that we no longer have. I think the quality and growth of some of our young players, the experience that we currently have.
“Keeping your best players, that was also a challenge for us this year – to keep the drivers of the team, the talent, the quality, that was also something we had to work hard towards, and I think we succeeded.
“European football as an ambition is a realistic one, I think for everyone, and that has to be the challenge for us all.”
Newcastle United absolutely should challenge for Europe this season
Despite all of the injuries, the cup draws and the Sandro Tonali suspension, Newcastle United came so close to qualifying for Europe last season.
Now most of Newcastle’s players are fit again, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles the only long-term absentees. There is no European football to contend with, meaning no midweek trips to AC Milan or Paris Saint-Germain. And Sandro Tonali is back, making the Magpies’ midfield much stronger.
In that respect, Newcastle absolutely should be challenging for Europe. The team is certainly good enough, when everyone is fit and firing. You could argue that is not the case right now, with Howe’s side enduring a sluggish start to the campaign – despite being unbeaten.
But Newcastle’s rivals have all strengthened, and the race for Europe is going to be tougher than ever. Howe could have benefitted from a couple of fresh faces to keep pace with Newcastle’s rivals, but they did not arrive.
Instead, Newcastle are having to stick with what they have got and hope they are good enough to be in the conversation for Europe. They should be, but the lack of support for Howe must be taken into consideration if things start go wrong.
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