3 points ahead of Leicester will complete Newcastle's main goal this season is to qualify for the Champions League. But it will also increase their total score to 72
Eddie Howe has challenged the Newcastle stars to become one of the best players in their Premier League history.
Three points ahead of Leicester will achieve the main goal of the season and qualify for the Champions League. But it would also bring their total to 72 - the third-highest score ever achieved by the Geordies in the Premier League, and well ahead of Sir Bobby Robson's record.
With two games remaining, United have 69 points, equal to Robson's 2002-03 team in third and two points behind fourth-placed 2001-02 team. Legends like Alan Shearer, Gary Speed, Nobby Solano , Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert led United into the Euro top flight last time out. Howe's men, including Callum Wilson with 18 goals, Bruno Guimaraes and local boy Dan Burn, will soon make it into that group and he said:
"It's good to hear that. I didn't fully know the best total. That's really good because we have a lot of respect for those teams. I watched them and enjoyed watching them.
“It is difficult to compare teams and eras. Everything is so different. I have great respect for the history of the football club. So if we can put ourselves in that position or near those teams, that's a good thing.
"If you're in and around these teams and players in the record, you'll be remembered and that's a great thing my players think about because this club has gone down in history.
"He has heroes that have been around for a long time, and for those players to be seen the way I am sure they are, that's a huge thing."
Sir Bobby Robson was the inspiration for Howe as a child watching Italia '90. Robson was fired before the tournament but made it to the semi-finals.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle qualifies for the Champions League
Eddie Howe's Newcastle qualifies for the Champions League
"I've never met him, but I'd love to have him," Howe said. "I definitely admire him. I loved watching him at the 1990 World Cup and the way he handled himself under intense pressure, that's something I'm certain of as a young man. has shaped my view of coaches and how to act.He is a credit to himself and his family.
Kevin Keegan's Entertainers, currently United's strongest team in the modern era, hit 78 points after finishing second in 1996. how said:
"Kevin, I spoke before I took the job here. I need to speak to him again. Even in that brief conversation with him, I learned a lot about the club. "
Howe will push ahead with its summer hiring plans next week and said:
“No matter what happens, we won't have a bottomless pit. We will be subject to strong constraints. Whatever we do in the transfer market, we will have to be very smart. "In the three transfer windows I've had, we've been excellent, and we have to continue like this. All the lists are in a drawer at the moment..."
He will use his mind and heart to decide which players deserve his loyalty and which players can go on.
He added:
"I think as a coach you have to be ruthless when necessary. It sounds a bit strange, but there are times when you have to be loyal and times when you have to be ruthless.