Newcastle Europe Hopes in the Balance

By Nick Raynor
April 21 2006

After thinking they would not feature in Europe next season, Newcastle United were given hope – This may have been taken away again.

Newcastle currently lie in 7th place in the league and must finish 6th to automatically qualify for the UEFA Cup.

 

This spot in currently occupied by Blackburn, 3 points ahead on Newcastle, and the Magpies have some tough fixtures left, including desperate relegation battlers Birmingham, and league leaders Chelsea.

 

The Inter-Toto cup place will go to the highest placed team who applied and did not get into Europe. Newcastle got an unlucky back in August and were knocked out by Deportivo.

 

Newcastle may now see themselves slip down the league table, as Shearer, Owen and Shola Ameobi are all injured, leaving Albert Luque and Michael Chopra the likely strike partnership as options are limited.

 

Glenn Roeder will be looking to the pair to step up their game and play out of their skins, as both players are desperate to make an impression, and they both did a good job against Sunderland as the Spaniard and the Geordie both netted.

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