There is still plenty of hope in Newcastle despite the city's footballers dropping into the second tier of English football.
Rafa Benitez's team went out with a bang, beating Tottenham 5-1 on the final day of the season to give a glimpse of what could have been.
Despite it having initially seemed unlikely, former Real Madrid manager Benitez
could yet stay in the North East and try to lead the club back to the Premier League.
And he is not the only big name seemingly set to remain on Tyneside, with enigmatic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic telling the Serbian media that he wants to "be at the club for many years and [become] a legend".
https://twitter.com/cathgibs/status/732559162127863808
Mitrovic, who arrived from Anderlecht for £15m last summer, scored nine times for Newcastle in his first Premier League season.
And he told
Blic that he wants to lead Newcastle back to the top flight...if they want to keep him.
"Many children dream of playing for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United, while I have always just wanted to wear the shirt of Partizan and Newcastle, and represent my country.
"I am sorry about relegation, but Newcastle is a big club and I hope that we will soon return to the elite."
Newcastle will likely sell some of their higher earners following relegation, with Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan poised to leave when their contracts expire. It remains to be seen whether out-of-contract Englishmen Steven Taylor and Rolando Aarons are offered new deals.
