Supporters celebrated in May when the screen at St James’ Park confirmed that elite European nights would return to Tyne side for the 2025/26 season, but few initially understood what that meant for the fixture list.

This campaign represents the first time Newcastle United will compete under the revised Champions League format, which has removed the traditional group stage and introduced a league-style phase.

Because of the alteration, Newcastle will contest eight matches in the Champions League this season, meaning their total fixtures could surpass 60 if they progress far in the domestic cups.

Bruno Guimaraes urged Newcastle to sign reinforcements in May, and although four senior arrivals have been made, injury issues from the last two years remain a concern. With games increasing every year, fixture congestion has become a major topic, and eventually the Premier League will need to act.

Exploring possible solutions, Geordie Boot Boys spoke with financial expert Kieran Maguire to assess which scenarios would be most financially realistic for Newcastle.

Back in March, Newcastle defeated Liverpool at Wembley to capture the Carabao Cup, ending their domestic trophy drought since 1955. During the celebrations, club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan assured supporters it would not be the last piece of silverware.

Yet it is widely acknowledged that the Carabao Cup carries the least prestige compared with the FA Cup and Premier League, and the fact that it is staged midweek adds to fixture congestion.

UEFA president Alexander Ceferin suggested in 2020 that the Carabao Cup should be abolished to ease fixture pressures. Maguire, however, doubts PIF would support such a proposal.

“Newcastle are in an unusual place when it comes to the overall structure of English football,” he said.

“You only need to consider the effect that winning the League Cup had for them. That is certainly a factor in any debate about reshaping the calendar. It is one competition that could be sacrificed.

“But with the League Cup, Newcastle’s owners can claim they have delivered a major trophy. Remove it, and you reduce the silverware on offer. The Big Six all want trophies, but with the FA Cup and Premier League, six doesn’t go into three – there simply aren’t enough prizes to win.”

The Premier League has mostly had 20 clubs throughout its history, though it originally began with 22.

From the 1994/95 season, the league was reduced to 20 teams in an effort to reduce fixture overload and improve quality. With more competitions being added, some now ask whether the Premier League should follow the Bundesliga’s model of 18 clubs.

Newcastle currently benefit from the Premier League’s TV rights deal, taking a fair slice of the revenue. But they would gain significantly more if the league shrank, with the existing £12bn broadcast package in place.

Sharing that revenue among fewer clubs would hand Newcastle a bigger payout automatically.

Newcastle are in a similar place to where Man City were 12 years ago,” Maguire explained.

“For City, winning the FA Cup was the first major statement. For Newcastle supporters – and probably the owners too – there will be a more understanding approach to keeping the league at its current size and to the future of the League Cup.

“If the Premier League became a 16 or 18-team competition, Newcastle could benefit financially. The TV money would remain the same, simply divided between fewer sides.

“There would be no reduction in value. Broadcasters are not concerned with Burnley against Wolves. Those fixtures carry no weight in television negotiations.”

Although the financial rewards would be enticing for Newcastle, Premier League CEO Richard Masters has insisted that reducing the number of teams to 18 will not be considered.