If Newcastle are to keep - and attract - the elite-level players they so desire, this week will go a long way to determining their chances of doing so.
It was telling when Kieran Trippier, in the wake of the disappointing home draw with Brighton, told us: ‘Throughout my whole career, since I went to Tottenham, I have been in Europe, be it Europa League or Champions League. With the way the club is going, it needs to be in Europe and competing at the top of the Premier League.