Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has urged club owner Mike Ashley to spend the £35million accrued from selling Andy Carroll to enable them to challenge for a European spot.
Alan Pardew's side moved up to ninth spot in the Premier League thanks to Tuesday's 2-0 victory at Birmingham. But Barton believes the Magpies need to add another half a dozen top-quality players to the squad if they are to become a major force and that Carroll's sale could be the golden ticket that lets them do that in the summer.