Shay Given believes another marquee signing next month could secure a Champions League finish for Newcastle United. As it stands, the Magpies are second in the table after their destruction of Leicester City on Boxing Day.
Just one defeat this season - a controversial 1-0 loss to Liverpool - places Newcastle among the contenders for the top four. Not since August 2003 have United competed in Europe’s elite competition, when Partizan Belgrade knocked Sir Bobby Robson’s side out on penalties in the third qualifying round.
Securing Champions League football would catapult expectations on Tyneside. Attracting players would prove a far easier proposition should Eddie Howe reach the promised land.
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Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak have been the statement signings since the Saudi-backed takeover was completed last October. Former goalkeeper Given - who made 14 Champions League appearances for Newcastle - thinks one more next month could ensure a top-four finish.
“If they win today, they will go second in the league,” he told Amazon Sport. “We’re into the second half of the season and it’s just phenomenal to even say that.
“I think he (Howe) won’t want to change too much. Emile (Heskey) made a great question of whether the break came at the wrong time.
“If he can keep this group of players together… Isak is not far away, Saint-Maximin is getting up to speed and Wilson is a loss today but, if they are close in a couple of weeks, will Newcastle go again, sign one more player perhaps just to get them across the line?”
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