Eddie Howe says Newcastle won’t take Champions League qualification for granted until it is mathematically confirmed.
The Magpies head into the penultimate weekend of Premier League fixtures in third place after a strong run of recent form.
They head to second-placed Arsenal on Sunday knowing a win – barring a mathematical miracle – will be enough for them to secure a place among the European elite next season.
But Howe says no-one on Tyneside is getting ahead of themselves.
He said: “It’s not done yet. The picture can change game to game and I think we’ve got to be really focused on our next game and trying to win it.
“Our preparation has been good and the focus is there from the players. Nothing is achieved until it’s achieved. We have to be single minded in that and not get distracted.”
Eddie Howe on chasing UCL qualification:
“It’s not done yet. The picture can change game to game and I think we’ve got to be really focused on our next game and trying to win it. We have been, our preparation has been good and the focus is there from the players. Nothing is… pic.twitter.com/WGI6ljaqLV
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 16, 2025
Botman a doubt for Arsenal clash
Newcastle won’t have a full squad available at the Emirates, though.
Joelinton is unlikely to play again this season, Kieran Trippier is a major doubt while Netherlands centre-half Sven Botman has a knee problem and will be a late call.
“It was a knock, he got a bang on his knee,” Howe said of Botman. “We’re not sure about Sven’s availability for the weekend but we’ll give him a chance to be fit.
“We don’t think it’s a serious injury. He’s been unlucky. You’re going to get knocks and bruises in his position and this is a similar thing, he’s been really unlucky on the last two occasions.
“Kieran I don’t think will be fit for this weekend but again it’s not a big injury, a very minor calf problem.
“Joe [Willock], we’ll leave the door open for him, I think he’s got a slight chance.”
Newcastle squad is light when injuries occur
Newcastle have chosen to operate with a small squad over recent seasons and have been fortunate to have avoided injuries to major players this term.
Howe admits, however, that that does leave his squad light when players are unavailable.
He added: ”I think January [transfer window] played a part in that, we lost two players from the squad. I think we have done really well this season to manage a small squad. Our injury record this season has been very good, in part due to having less games. We have managed to keep the majority of the players fit.
“You are always going to get one or two. But I think we are in the position with our squad, you get a run of injuries and it can look thin very quickly. Fingers crossed we can maintain our strength until the end of the season.”
