Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has said that Newcastle United 'want to get to' Manchester United's commercial level ahead of tomorrow's fixture.
The Magpies have enjoyed a great start to their 2022/23 Premier League campaign under manager Eddie Howe and go into this weekend's game off the back of a 5-1 demolition of Brentford.
Erik ten Hag's side will want to make it five league wins in their last six after their 2-1 win over Everton last weekend but were almost held to a point by Cyprian side Omonoia in midweek before a 93rd-minute Scott McTominay goal bailed them out.
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When asked earlier this week if Newcastle could ever be as big as Man United, Howe said: "The aim of this club with the ambition behind the scenes – which is huge now – I have always said we have to now try and deliver those huge ambitions. But there is no ceiling here.
"When you see the passion around the city … the thing that always blows me away is the young people here, the 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds, their passion for Newcastle. It runs through generations and that won’t stop.
"What will happen hopefully is the global brand and the global enthusiasm for Newcastle will grow. The global support will definitely change through time if the club can be successful. I am putting more pressure on myself here, but that is the challenge and that is where the club wants to be. Who knows what the future will look like in 20 or 30 years."
Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Merson responded to Howe's comments saying that the Magpies need a bigger global presence before they can rival United comercially.
"I don't think he's talking about positions [in the league table], I think he's talking about the stature of the club. I mean, this is Manchester United we're talking about - their club shop is about as big as Selfridges!
"If you go to the sports shop down the road, there's Man United shirts hanging up, not Newcastle shirts. That's where they want to get to. There probably aren't any Newcastle shirts hanging anywhere else bar Newcastle.
"With Manchester United, it's all over the world. That's where they want to get to - I think Newcastle win the game this weekend. The way they're playing, and the pace they have on the counter attack, if they can pick out the right passes this weekend I see them winning."
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