Pardew urges European challenge.

Alan Pardew has challenged his Newcastle squad to keep up the level of their recent performances until the end of the season and ensure that all the hard work that has been put in does not go to waste.

To be fair, he does have a point. We are all but safe now and that could be a signal to the players to take their collective foot off the pedal. It's happened before when a team has nothing in particular to play for, but that is not the case at the moment.

Back-to-back home games against Bolton this weekend and Everton the weekend after give the team a chance of really pushing on up the table and and leave with us an outside chance of qualifying for Europe this season. If that was to happen it would be a truly stunning return to the Premier League that would have surpassed the expectations of many a fan.

The word 'Europe' tends to send shivers of delusion down my spine, but it isn't me who is thinking of it, not this time anyway. Step forward Alan Pardew, who believes that Europe could be on the cards if the lads can stay focussed against Bolton on Saturday.

“Bolton is a big, big game even though many will view it is as a game between two mid-table sides. But they will be in the same mood as us," Pardew told The Journal. "This game is pivotal in terms of attacking the top ten. If we win this we can attack the top ten – if we don’t win this game then we’ve lost a big opportunity and the opportunity might be Europe."

“We’re on the verge of something exciting – these two games will decide whether we’ve got something to go for or we’re going to have a season where we’re just seeing things out. I don’t want that to happen. This game is to keep the season alive – and I think we need the help of the fans to do that.”

Well you can't say that he isn't ambitious, can you?

In a sense he is absolutely spot on, and this rallying call has come at the right time to remind he players that the hard work is far from over. A win against Bolton could catapult us to 7th in the table if Sunderland fail to beat Everton at Goodison Park, which would give us yet more bragging right over those infernal inbreeds. Massive Sunderland below a newly promoted team? I can hear the fizzing from here!

We have to win our game first though, but given that we have a decent run in when compared to other teams, and if we can get a bit of luck along the way, then who knows? Perhaps a Europa spot could be up for grabs after all?

Am I deluded? You better believe it!