Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe insists that the Magpies still can't consider themselves as Champions League material this season just yet.
United look set for their highest-ever finish since 2012 when Alan Pardew guided the club to fifth spot in the Premier League. The lowest position Newcastle can finish is seventh place which would still have been regarded as a massive success when the campaign kicked off.
But Howe insists nothing is "done" yet and that his team must keep on fighting for as many points as possible from the last remaining 15 available to them. Howe said: "Nothing is done and I didn’t expect it to be done. We’re competing against elite teams who will fight to the end and we have to do the same."
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But when has it been "done" in the past as far as qualifying for the Champions League is concerned? Here's a look back on when Newcastle booked their place at Europe's top table and what the prospects of an earlier confirmation will be this year.
Second place - 1997
Newcastle 5-0 Nottingham Forest
Match day Champions League place was secured: Round 38
The Magpies were never considered realistic Champions League entrants back in 1997 when they started the final day of the season in fourth place. But an extraordinary turn of events unfolded on May 11 in the last round of matches.
Newcastle were always favourites to beat an already relegated Nottingham Forest team. And Kenny Dalglish's side pulled off a 5-0 victory with goals from Les Ferdinand (2), Tino Asprilla, Alan Shearer and Robbie Elliott.
What few expected was for Liverpool to slip up away to Sheffield Wednesday with the Reds held 1-1 while Arsenal failed to better Newcastle's scoreline when they faced Derby County. Subsequently, a +33 goal difference sent Dalglish and co into the new expanded Champions League as the country's first entrant as a Premier League runner-up.
Having finished second to scenes of devastation just 12 months earlier after losing out to Man United in the title race, there were scenes of celebration around St James' Park this time around.
Fourth place - 2002
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Newcastle United
Match day Champions League place was secured: 36
United managed to secure Champions League football and fourth place on a nervy night at Ewood Park. Two Toon old boys in Keith Gillespie and Andy Cole twice put Blackburn Rovers in front but Alan Shearer responded in timely fashion to earn a 2-2 draw.
And that proved enough for Newcastle to book a place in the Champions League for only a second time. They would secure a place in the play-offs thanks to this entertaining draw and managed to achieve it with two matches to spare.
Newcastle earned 71 points to grab fourth place as they followed this draw up with a 3-1 win over West Ham and the end of season loss to Southampton meant nothing.
Third place - 2003
Match day Champions League place was secured: Round 37
Newcastle United 1-0 Birmingham City
United qualified for the Champions League for the second successive year thanks to a narrow win over Birmingham City. The magic moment came when Hugo Viana swirled home a free-kick at the Leazes End in front of a crowd of 52,146.
That was enough to bag a Champions League place with one game to spare. Interestingly, Newcastle achieved this feat after picking up two points less than the previous campaign but managed to finish third.
They ended the season with a 2-2 draw at West Brom but trouble was around the corner and while tasting nights against Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus were fresh in the minds of players and fans alike, that disastrous night against Partizan Belgrade was just three months away.
2023 - ?
What happens next for modern-day Newcastle United?
The Magpies sit in third place with five matches to play and have a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Liverpool as well as a game in hand. With teams in the top seven set to face off against each other it looks like seventh is the lowest Newcastle can finish.
But in terms of securing Champions League football, Liverpool can still reach 71 points and Brighton could still pick up 73. Whether that's possible remains to be seen but Newcastle will probably be there are thereabouts with two more wins.
To fail now would mean Newcastle totally imploding and Brighton or Liverpool finding title-winning form. Focusing on this weekend alone sees Brentford travel to Liverpool, Newcastle tackle Arsenal and Brighton hosting Everton on Monday.
Then there's Man United of course, currently sitting in fourth place. The Red Devils lost to Brighton in the 99th minute on Thursday and now head to West Ham on Sunday night.
So Eddie Howe is right - it's not done yet. He concluded his Press conference by saying: "Our five games, we need to give our best preparation and focus to because the fight we’re in could go right down to the end of the season."
If Brighton or Liverpool slip up, qualification could come as early as Leeds away for Newcastle. But it looks more likely to be either against Brighton or Leicester at home.
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