Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has told the Telegraph that the Magpies are a huge club that should be playing in the Champions League rather than taking the Championship by storm.
Newcastle were relegated last season despite a marked improvement in performances and results under Rafael Benitez in the final weeks of the campaign.
After a slow start to life in the second tier this term they have found their stride and are in imperious form, having lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Mitrovic, who has scored three goals in eight appearances so far this season, believes that the improvement is down to the team spirit and Benitez's steady guiding hand.
The 22-year-old told the Telegraph: "Maybe last season I played more, but we are in good shape. We have very good team spirit and we are winning lots.
"I have to wait for my chance and when I get my chance I have to show people I can score goals and I know how to play. I listen to what the manager has to say. He’s a big name and a big coach and you can learn a lot from him. You can learn a lot even if you don’t play. I’m only 22, I have a long way to go in my career."
Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their fifth goal
However, the Serbian international is not content to settle for winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Not at all.
Instead, he wants the club to fulfill their potential, which he believes is to return to playing in the Champions League as they were just over a decade ago.
He added: "We had a team that should have done much better things last season, it was a really disappointing season, not just for me, but the fans especially.
"It’s a big club, a huge club that should be playing in the Champions League and that is hopefully what we strive for again next year."