JUST HOWE FAR CAN TOON SIDE GO?

“There will be some players who might not get back to Wembley... a footballer’s career is a very volatile thing.”

- SIMON BIRD

TO HIS credit, Eddie Howe gave the most cutting assessment of Newcastle’s Wembley failure. 

Wise words from the Toon boss, who knows Newcastle’s ruthless owners are still analysing how to turn the club into winners. 

Howe’s honesty came amid a mush of comforting platitudes and self-congratulation in defeat.

Yes, they have great, loyal, long-suffering fans who won the terrace battle with noise and defiance.

But as the Saudi paymasters plot their next moves, lazy assumptions were quickly being made about Newcastle.