Paul Merson believes that Newcastle United should concentrate on winning a cup competition rather than solely focus on maintaining their Premier League status next season.
The Magpies achieved automatic promotion straight back to the top flight last season and finished the campaign as champions of the division.
Manager Rafa Benitez will be looking to replicate the 2010-11 season where the Tyneside club finished in 12th place following promotion from the Championship.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Merson feels that Newcastle will comfortably survive in the league next season but pleaded with the north-east giants to try and go the distance in the cup competitions.
“They’re back where they deserve to be, a big club like Newcastle,” he said
“But I say it all the time – I’d love them to have a cup run.
“Last season they got beaten by Oxford United (in the FA Cup). I’d just like to have a right go in the cups because they need to win a cup.
“It’s a big football club and to not win a trophy for that long – I don’t want Newcastle to be a club that is just playing to stay in the Premier League and rests everybody in the cup competitions.”
The Magpies have never won the League cup and their last FA Cup success came against Manchester City in 1955.
The Tyneside club have not reached a domestic cup final since losing to Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup at the old Wembley Stadium.
However, manager Benitez has always managed to win trophies throughout his managerial career.
The Spaniard won two league titles and a UEFA Super Cup during his spell with La Liga side Valencia.
Benitez was the architect of the memorable 2005 Champions League triumph for Liverpool when they came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to beat Serie A club AC Milan on penalties.
The 57-year-old manager also won the FA Cup and European Super Cup with the Merseyside club.
The Spaniard also enjoyed success at Stamford Bridge as the club lifted the Europa League in 2013 before guiding Italian outfit Napoli to two cup successes during his two-year spell at the club.