Despite another season dominated by wrangles off the pitch as opposed to success on it, Newcastle United still retain the ambitions to be a top four club once again.

 

That was the promise given to fans by the clubs Managing Director Derek Llambias who also insisted that much-maligned owner Mike Ashley’s desire to see the club progress remains undiminished despite the protests and aborted sale. Relations between club and fans have been sorely tested over the past few months following Kevin Keegan’s departure. The marriage between the Geordies and the ’cockney mafia’ as they were known was certainly going through a rocky patch and recent counselling has seen both side back on speaking terms if not actually back in love.

On a positive note at St James’ Park, Senegal international defender Habib Beye is on his way back after suffering ankle ligament damage on Boxing Day courtesy of the Premier League’s newly-crowned hatchet man Lee Cattermole. The 20 year-old hope to be back playing inside a month to play his part in securing the Magpies top flight status.