21 May 2023 , 05:00
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Eddie Howe has challenged Newcastle stars to become one of the best in their Premier League history.
Three points against Leicester will achieve the main aim of the season and qualify for the Champions League. But it will also elevate their points total to 72 - the third highest the Geordies have ever achieved in the Premier League, and ahead of Sir Bobby Robson’s achievements.
With two games to go, United have 69 points, equal to Robson’s side of 2002-03 who finished third, and two behind the 2001-02 team who finished 4th. Legends like Alan Shearer, Gary Speed, Nobby Solano, Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert led United to the Euro elite last time round.
Howe’s men, including Callum Wilson on 18 goals, Bruno Guimaraes and local lad Dan Burn, will soon be in that bracket and he said: “That is great to hear. I was not fully aware of the best points totals. It is really nice because we respect those teams so much. I watched them and loved watching them.
“It is very difficult to compare teams and eras. Everything is so different. I have lots of respect for the history of the football club. So if we can put ourselves in that position or near those teams that is a great thing.
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“If you are in and around those teams and players in achievements you are remembered and that is an amazing thing for my players to think about because this club is steeped in history.
“It has its heroes going back a long time, and for these players to be viewed as I am sure they are, it is a huge thing.”
Sir Bobby Robson was an inspiration to Howe when he was a kid watching Italia ‘90. Robson was under fire before the tournament but reached the semi-final.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle are set to qualify for the Champions League (Getty Images)“I never met him, but would have loved to have,” said Howe. “I certainly admired him. I loved watching him in the 1990 World Cup and how he conducted himself under intense pressure which is a thing as a young lad I am sure formed my opinion on managers and how to act. He was a credit to himself and his family.”
Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers team, currently United’s greatest in the modern era, reached 78 points finishing second in 1996.
Howe said: "Kevin, I spoke to before taking the job here. I need to speak to him again. Even in that brief conversation I had with him taught me so much about the club."
Howe will step up summer recruitment plans next week and says: “Regardless of what happens, we’re not going to have a bottomless pit. We will be under tight constraints. Whatever we do in the transfer market, we’re going to have to be very smart.
"In the three transfer windows I’ve had, we’ve been excellent, and we have to continue that. All the lists are kept in a drawer for now…"
He will use his head and heart to decide which players have earned his loyalty and which ones could move on.
He added: "I think as a manager you have to be ruthless at the times you need to be. This may sound a bit strange but there are times you need to show loyalty and times when you have to back people. But there are also times when you have to make a decision you feel is in the benefit of the club so I think I can wear all those hats when I need to.
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"I think you need a bit of heart and head. I would say I am a very analytical thinker the majority of the time. That is not to say the heart is not hugely important as well when you are making decisions."
1995/96 78 2nd Keegan
1993/94 77 3rd Keegan
1994/95 72 6th Keegan
2001/02 71 4th Robson
2022/23 69 3rd Howe… two games to go
2002/03 69 3rd Robson
1996/97 68 2nd Dalglish
2011/12 65 5th Pardew