Report: Newcastle share trophy joke behind the scenes after Saudi Arabia trip

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Newcastle United are hoping to end their trophy drought this season, although some inside the club are joking that they already have.

The Magpies are now in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup, and are just three games away from reaching a first domestic final since 1999.

If they make it to the final, it would be the club’s first appearances at the new Wembley (not including when Tottenham used it as their home ground in the Premier League in 2017).

Eddie Howe’s side beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night to keep the dream alive, as they look to win their first domestic trophy since 1955. The last time Newcastle won anything was 1969 – picking up the Fairs Cup under the management of Joe Harvey.

It has been a long time since Newcastle tasted silverware. However, a recent trip to Saudi Arabia actually saw the Magpies lift a trophy of sorts.

Newcastle have already lifted a trophy this season

When Newcastle went to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, they played Al Hilal in a friendly. The game was dubbed the Diriyah Season Cup, which Howe’s side won 5-0.

On the face of it, it was just a friendly – an exhibition game for the crowd in Riyadh. But after the full time whistle went, a stage was assembled on the pitch and a trophy emerged.

The Toon players went up one by one to receive a medal, before Jamaal Lascelles was handed a trophy, raising it high into the air as Newcastle captain.

Gold streamers filled the sky, as a sheepish Newcastle team celebrated victory. That was until Jacob Murphy took the trophy and waved it around like it was a real honour. It was amusing to watch, and now it is reportedly the source of a joke going on behind the scenes at St James’ Park.

According to the Athletic, some people inside Newcastle have been joking that the Diriyah Season Cup victory should go down as the first trophy of the new era.

As long as it isn’t the only trophy!

It is taking some getting used to this ‘Newcastle being good’ business. It is hard to fathom that we aren’t too far away from an actual cup final – all the while sitting third in the Premier League.

The trophy lift in Riyadh was funny, but winning a proper honour will produce a completely different emotion from players and fans.

The belief is there from the club. They want to be challenging and winning trophies. That could potentially happen in 2023, even if some people at Newcastle are joking that the first trophy was actually won on December 8th in a friendly in Saudi Arabia.