The Magpies played in Europe's top competition for the first time in two decades last season but finishing seventh in the Premier League – combined with Manchester United's FA Cup win – means that they will not in continental action this season, something the winger feels the team can take advantage of.

Asked by FourFourTwo about reaching the Champions League again, Barnes said: "We definitely can. Last season we had a lot of different challenges and it was tough, but we still did well in the end – we only missed out because of Manchester United winning the cup.

"Our aim is to be back up there. We've definitely got the quality in the squad to do it."

Manchester United's cup win deprived Newcastle of a Europa Conference League berth and Barnes admits that he would have preferred for the club to be in European competition.

Asked if he wanted City to win the FA Cup, he replied: "Definitely, because even though we knew we weren't going to be in the Champions League, where we wanted to be, some sort of European football would still have been great for us.

"But this season we just have the Premier League to focus on now, hopefully with a fully fit squad."

Barnes is hoping to make a big impact this season after an injury-hit first campaign on Tyneside and is grateful to manager Eddie Howe for helping him settle at the club.

The player told The Guardian newspaper: "He's really good with helping you settle. He really understand the problems players face when they're changing clubs.

"He gets a really good understanding of each player's family situation and he can help you with that. If there are certain things you need, he's always there."