Shola Ameobi believes Newcastle United should target European football

Shola Ameobi celebrates during Newcastle’s 5-1 win over Sunderland (Getty images)

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Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi believes that the club can eventually play host to European football once again.

Newcastle were an established team in Europe in the early part of this century, but they have since stuttered and are only in their first season back in the top flight after playing last season in the Championship.

In 2003, under Sir Bobby Robson, the Toon played in the Champions League and memorably qualified for the second round despite losing their first three matches in the group stage.

Ameobi, talking to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, acknowledges that the club are still some way off the side which featured players such as Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy, but he has taken heart from Tottenham Hotspur’s performance under Harry Redknapp which saw them reach the quarter-finals of the competition this season.

“Football can change very quickly,” said Ameobi.

“Fortunes in the game go up and down.

“Look at Tottenham, they are trying to get into the top four again this season and just over three years ago they were bottom of the league. Look at what Harry Redknapp has done.

“We know we have a long way to go to reach the heights of the Sir Bobby days and we’re not kidding ourselves.

“It’s a work in progress and we want to keep on improving like we have been and moving in the right direction.

“Anything is possible. We have to take one step at a time.”

Newcastle have been boosted by the news that Kevin Nolan should be fit for his side’s trip to Anfield on Sunday.

Manager Alan Pardew said after his team drew 1-1 at Blackpool last weekend that he now believed they were safe from relegation and he has been given a boost for the trip to Liverpool on Sunday with the news that Kevin Nolan will be available.

Nolan also told the Evening Chronicle: “It’s been horrible to be honest to miss two games. But it is just part and parcel of it all.

“I have been there for the lads in terms of support, but you feel it when you have two weeks out.”