Are Newcastle United the real deal? When can they realistically mount a title challenge?

Newcastle United’s victory over Antonio Conte was for many a statement win for the Northeast side.

Not only did it lift them into the Champions League places, but it also proved that they could travel away to one of the so-called big clubs and win.

It has been a year now since the Saudi led consortium took over the club, a move that made them, potentially the richest team in the world. Initially, some thought that they would immediately splash the cash, but, although money has been spent, it has been done in what appears to be in a judicious manner.

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It has been an evolution rather than a revolution on Tyneside.

At this stage just getting into Europe at the end of this season would be a real step forward, and one that would satisfy the ambitions of the club owners and the majority of their supporters.

However, they will be expecting to become serious title challengers in the near future, the question is when?

In the first place, it should be put into context. They have the advantage at the moment because they are not playing European football, which means that, unlike some of their other rivals at the top end of the division, they are not playing three games a week. Consequently, they can concentrate on the Premier League, and players have a chance to rest between fixtures.

Whether their squad is deep enough, to cope with the additional burdens when they come, must be open to question.

They also face the same conundrum as all the other clubs in the Premier League and, indeed, across the rest of Europe.

In three weeks’ time, the season will be halted for the World Cup, and many of their players will be away with their countries playing international football.

Nobody will know what state those players will be in afterwards, and if one or several of them could return injured. It is likely to derail the league campaigns of more than one team this season.

There is also no recent history of silverware on Tyneside. The last big trophy they won was the Fairs Cup in 1969 before most of their supporters were even born. It can take time to prepare a winning mentality.

However, whilst some of those fans might have been expecting that they would just throw money at the problem, the new owners have adopted a more strategic approach, and have been selective in their appointments.

Eddie Howe might not have been the big-name manager some might have expected them to go for, but, so far, he appears an ideal choice, methodical, even tempered, and willing to spend the necessary hours on the training ground, working with the players.

They also acquired the services of Dean Ashworth as Sporting Director from fellow Premier League side Brighton, Ashworth is widely credited for his canny recruitment at the South Coast side and for his ability to spot lesser-known players from abroad, like Marc Cucurella, and Yves Bissouma, that they were able to develop and sell at a large profit.

He is there to try and ensure that the Newcastle money is not wasted on expensive acquisitions that upset the harmony of the squad or the balance of the team.

Newcastle have also been conscious of the need to stay within the confines of FFP (Financial Fair Play), and have not spent money so far that is not commensurate with their turnover.

The acquisition of striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad was an early indication that this might change. The Swede was signed from Real Sociedad in the summer for a club record fee, reported to be over £65 million, although he is now out injured.

However, the club is again expected to be busy in the January transfer window, and Howe will be given more money to spend.

Success can be self-perpetuating. One of the biggest problems in the past has been attracting players who want to move to the North-East, with foreign players often preferring to join clubs based in London or Manchester. But if Newcastle can begin to win silverware on a regular basis, then this will change, and it will become an increasingly attractive proposition.

At this stage, therefore, winning a cup might be a useful stepping stone. Not only would that end the long trophy doubt, but it would also give the club an air of self-belief. It would also bring European football back to Tyneside, and also help when it comes to recruiting top players in the transfer market and raise standards across the squad.

The next step after that would be competing in Europe on a regular basis and achieving finishes in the Champions League places. It will not be easy – apart from Manchester City and Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal all have similar ambitions, and squads capable of fulfilling them.

City, in particular, will be a difficult bridge to gap, because of the talent that they have available. And, whilst their Abu Dhabi owners do not have quite as deep pockets as the Saudis, by the standards of most other people they still have money to burn in the transfer market.

They will continue to invest heavily in the team, and, whilst they are able to sign players like Erling Haaland, they will always be a threat.

Nevertheless, if Newcastle continues at their current rate of progress, they can expect to be serious title challenges within two or three seasons. Winning it might be another thing. Geordie fans will still remember the 1995/1996 season when Kevin Keegan’s team were 12 points clear at the top of the table, before a dip in form, and inability to cope with the pressure of the situation, allowed Manchester United to overhaul them.

Newcastle’s owners will not want that to happen to their side. Having chosen the careful way to get to the top, they will want to stay there when they finally ascend the peak.