Ex-Newcastle United star John Barnes has aimed a subtle dig at his former club about how they are already lapping up the celebrations following their Carabao Cup success.
The Magpies ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought last weekend when beating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley Stadium, with Dan Burn and Alexander Isak writing their names into the club’s history books with goals either side of halftime.
Newcastle supporters were sent into a frenzy after the full-time whistle sounded, with several stars and members of staff being spotted in tears after getting their hands on the trophy.
Talk on Tyneside has now turned to how the team will celebrate their success with local supporters, with an open-top bus parade among the ideas being sounded out. However, not everyone is convinced by mid-season celebrations.
Former England international Barnes, who spent 10 years at Liverpool before joining Newcastle, has looked to pour cold water on talk of the Toon Army celebrating before the campaign concludes.
He told PokerScout: “Top players don’t celebrate in March. All the top players immediately focus on what’s coming up next. Top players don’t celebrate mid-season, if you do that, it’s when you’re on the open top bus in May or June. You have to focus on what's next.
“All they have to focus on is the league. They're not in the FA Cup, they're out of the Champions League. They wouldn’t have prioritised the domestic cups over the league. Now it’s doubly important for them to focus on the league. It’s doubly important because now this is all they have to play for.”
Newcastle’s victory over Arne Slot’s Liverpool means that they will be playing European football next season, securing themselves a spot in the playoff stage of the UEFA Conference League. However, the Toon Army will certainly be aiming higher now that they have the momentum to build on.
The St James’ Park outfit are currently in sixth place in the Premier League, just two points outside of the Champions League places. With the likes of Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes being linked with moves elsewhere this summer, finishing in the top four would certainly go a long way to convincing those trio – and others – to remain on Tyneside and commit their futures to the Newcastle project.