Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe
The banner in the Gallowgate End said it all on Sunday. "You entered the pitch as players, you left as legends," it read in a nod to captain Bruno Guimaraes' Wembley team talk.
This group's place in Newcastle United's history is assured, after they ended the club's long wait for silverware, but Eddie Howe knows that the Magpies cannot afford to stand still. The challenge is only going to get greater.
"Change is a natural process that you go through in life and a football squad has to evolve," the Newcastle boss told reporters after his side qualified for the Champions League for a second time in three seasons. "It has to change."
Newcastle's starting XI has needed reinforcing for some time now following three successive windows without a major signing and the average age of the squad has crept up in that time. In fact, players aged 29 and older have made a combined 210 appearances in the Premier League for Newcastle this season. For context, only Manchester City and West Ham's veterans played more games in the top-flight.
Newcastle face a delicate balance this summer in retaining such experience - just look at the key contributions senior figures like Dan Burn have made this season - while also bringing in fresh blood. Yet there was a reason why Howe stressed the need to 'challenge the players with new players coming in' on Sunday as the Newcastle boss looks to build on this historic campaign.
Not only do major signings lift the group; current starters know they need to raise their game even further and the bench benefits with stronger options in reserve. If Newcastle are to cope with the intensity of life at the top end of the Premier League and the Champions League, while also mounting another push for silverware in the cups, the Magpies require such an injection of quality.
Newcastle United are in a better PSR position to strengthen this summer
Newcastle are certainly in a better PSR position to strengthen - that was the case even before fifth spot was secured - and the riches and pull of the Champions League will only help further. Those who come in won't have to look too far in the past for inspiration on how to make their mark at St James' as a new arrival.
Take Callum Wilson, for instance. Only Alan Shearer and Alexander Isak have scored more Premier League goals for Newcastle. This is a player who not only helped keep Newcastle in the league for three seasons but, also, helped fire the Magpies into the Champions League a couple of years ago.
There were so many pivotal strikes along the way. A double at Goodison Park to end a grim losing streak under Steve Bruce in 2021. What proved to be a winning goal against Burnley to secure Howe and Newcastle's first win of the following season. Another decisive goal at Spurs to lay down a marker in the race for the Champions League in 2022 as well as crucial braces against Southampton and Leeds United during the run-in later in the campaign.
Newcastle back in Champions League
Prize money
Draw dates
Full list of qualifiers
New format
However, as Wilson enters the final weeks of his contract, Sunday felt like an emotional farewell. Wilson wiped the tears away, made his way around the pitch on a solo lap of appreciation and applauded the fans, who responded by singing his name. Newcastle are due to sit down with Wilson's representatives - an incentivised deal has been floated - but it felt a little telling that Howe hailed the 33-year-old as someone who 'epitomises the spirit that's got us to where we are'.
In some ways, it felt like a fitting send-off. In others, you suspect, this was not the way Wilson would want to bow out after scoring just a solitary goal in the FA Cup this season. Wilson was the first to admit that this has been the 'most challenging' campaign of his career and that is saying something after the former England international was twice sidelined by serious knee injuries in the past.
It was certainly not how Wilson envisaged the season going on a personal level. After scoring two goals in his final three games last season, Wilson worked 'unbelievably hard' last summer and even enlisted the help of a movement expert who specialises in hamstring health before injury struck again. Wilson was so determined to get to the bottom of his long standing issues that the number nine even ended up paying out of his own pocket to visit specialists around the world.
Callum Wilson
Although Wilson managed to stay fit in the final months of the campaign, the striker has not looked the same player nor has he looked as fulfilled as he once did when he was the main man or when he was aggressively pushing Alexander Isak to start. There are one or two others who have also seen their roles change this season, like Sean Longstaff, and it feels like change could be coming.
"The same people coming back to form the same squad is not healthy," Howe admitted while speaking more generally. "But that's always very difficult to do because you're always losing people that in some cases have given you absolutely everything in every moment, in every training session and every game. Some people who have done unbelievable things to help you achieve success.
"But sometimes the best thing for you and for them is to actually part ways. It's not necessarily a negative thing for either party. We're in that position where we need healthy change to the squad."