Full Soccer Saturday transcript as Merson claims Howe will not want top-half Newcastle finish

Paul Merson has made the bizarre claim that Eddie Howe will be hoping Newcastle United do not secure a top-half finish. The Magpies are now just four points adrift of 10th-place Southampton following a 2-1 victory at St Mary's on Thursday night.

It was a third straight win to extend Newcastle's top-flight unbeaten run to nine matches, with away trips to Chelsea and Everton to come before the international break. The latest victory has raised the prospect of a top-half finish, which represents a remarkable turnaround considering United did not record their first victory of the season until December.

However, former Arsenal and England midfielder Merson suspects Howe will secretly be hoping his side do not achieve this feat, believing it would mislead the new owners over the strength of his squad. Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have outlined their vision to challenge for silverware this decade, but the pundit reckons they could be tempted to settle following a January transfer spend in excess of £90m.

READ MORE: "Stay humble", Eddie Howe's important message ahead of Newcastle United's tough clash at Chelsea

Darren Bent, Kris Boyd, Clinton Morrison joined Merson and host Jeff Stelling in the Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday studio. Here is everything they had to say following the Magpies midweek victory at Southampton.

Newcastle are getting results without three of their best players. Saint-Maximin ain't playing, Callum Wilson has been out injured and Kieran Trippier is out.

The future looks bright, and credit to Eddie Howe because a lot of people looked at it when he went in there and said was he the right man to turn it around. They had a good window, and that's what confidence does. You win football matches and it