EVEN though a home point with Norwich City lifted Newcastle United temporarily up to tenth in the Premier League, defender Ciaran Clark admits that Newcastle United can’t afford to let standards slip if they want to achieve their goals this season.

The Magpies head into tomorrow night’s FA Cup fourth round replay with Oxford United, of League One, desperate to make the most of an opportunity to reach the fifth stage of that competition for the first time since Mike Ashley took control in 2007.

Ashley is working with the “business as usual” approach despite the ongoing takeover talks on at St James’ Park, where there have been fresh reports centred on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s interest in buying the club in the last 48 hours.

It has been claimed the Crown Prince still has a strong interest in buying Manchester United, just 18 months after he was prepared to pay £3.5bn for a club the Glazers only paid £790m for in 2005. That represents a significant difference to the £340m Ashley would like to sell Newcastle.

But clearly it clouds the Saudi takeover bid of the Tyneside club, which sources close to Ashley suggest is still to receive a firm offer despite the strong claims that the consortium fronted by Amanda Staveley and funded by the Saudi sovereign investment fund are serious.

The playing squad and coaching staff are trying not to think about the takeover talk as they work on delivering results on the pitch.

Clark said: “We’ve had it a couple of times now. We’re obviously aware of what’s being said, but we try and concentrate on the games and training and try to put that to the back of our minds.”

On the evidence of the last two matches, it hasn’t worked. Back-to-back goalless draws at St James’ Park against Oxford in the FA Cup and then against Norwich in the Premier League have not impressed supporters or head coach Steve Bruce.

And now, at a time when Bruce has claimed his forwards have looked jaded and in desperate need of a rest, Newcastle must head into an unwanted replay at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow intent on progressing to the next stage.

“Ideally, we would have wanted to go through in the first game. We didn’t do so, we probably weren’t good enough on the day. Hopefully, we can go down there and get the win and be in the next round,” said Clark.

“I think it’s just the attitude we have to show in every game. We need to stay focused and keep working hard and hopefully take our chances when they come. We played against Oxford last week, and we know what to expect. It’s sold out, but I’m sure we’ll have a lot of support down there.

“All the lads are well up for it. We’d love nothing more than a decent cup run to give the crowd something to cheer about. We know ourselves it’s only a couple of games and there are finals. We also know there’s a lot of football to be played, and you need a lot of luck as well.”

Bruce knows that he will come under huge criticism if Newcastle don’t perform against Oxford tomorrow, so it will be a surprise to see him make too many changes = particularly when he does not expect to have Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle available until the trip to Arsenal on February 16.

But a repeat display like the one that was fortunate to claim a point against Norwich and Newcastle could be staring at a second defeat at Oxford in the FA Cup in three years, evoking memories of the 3-0 defeat under Rafa Benitez in 2017.

And yet the point claimed against the Canaries lifted Newcastle up the table and extended an unbeaten run to seven in all competitions, four in the league.

Clark said: “We all know how tough it is, and each game’s different. We’ve had a good little run, a couple of draws and a win. We’re unbeaten. We want to keep that momentum, and keep picking up points.

“We say before the game we want to keep a good shape and limit their chances. We all worked hard as a team. That always gives us a chance to nick a goal. If we keep doing that, we’ll give ourselves a chance of getting results.”

Clark is back in the side again after injury and he has enjoyed being a big part of Bruce’s first season at St James’ Park, having fallen out of favour under Bruce.

“It was frustrating being injured. I had a good run of games before that,” said Clark. “There were some decent results. I knew it was a busy Christmas schedule, so we needed as many players fit as we could. It was a frustrating time.

“It was one of those niggly ones. It wasn’t going to be too long, but enough to put me out for a couple of weeks. I’m glad to be back now and playing again and helping the team.

“I’ve been training well and working hard, really, and just trying to keep going and improving and doing what I can for the team. You need that bit of luck. Someone might miss a game and you might miss a chance.

“The start of the season the manager did say to me if I keep working hard in training eventually I’d get a chance, and it’s then up to you to try and take it. That’s all I did, keep working hard in training and hoping if I did get my chance that I’d take it. Luckily enough I have.”

Clark continued: “All the lads are well up for it. We’d love nothing more than a decent cup run to give the crowd something to cheer about. We know ourselves it’s only a couple of games and there are finals. We also know there’s a lot of football to be played, and you need a lot of luck as well.”

Bruce knows that he will come under huge criticism if Newcastle don’t perform against Oxford tomorrow, so it will be a surprise to see him make huge changes - particularly when he does not expect to have Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle available until the trip to Arsenal on February 16.

But a repeat display like the one that was fortunate to claim a point against Norwich and Newcastle could be staring at a second defeat at Oxford in the FA Cup in three years, evoking memories of the 3-0 defeat under Rafa Benitez in 2017.

Yet the point claimed against the Canaries lifted Newcastle up the table and extended an unbeaten run to seven in all competitions, four in the league.  Clark said: “We all know how tough it is, and each game’s different. We’ve had a good little run, a couple of draws and a win. We’re unbeaten. We want to keep that momentum, and keep picking up points.

“We say before the game we want to keep a good shape and limit their chances. We all worked hard as a team. That always gives us a chance to nick a goal. If we keep doing that, we’ll give ourselves a chance of getting results.”

Clark is back in the side again after injury and he has enjoyed being a big part of Bruce’s first season at St James’ Park, having fallen out of favour under Bruce.

“It was frustrating being injured. I had a good run of games before that,” said Clark. “There were some decent results. I knew it was a busy Christmas schedule, so we needed as many players fit as we could. It was a frustrating time.  “It was one of those niggly ones. It wasn’t going to be too long, but enough to put me out for a couple of weeks. I’m glad to be back now and playing again and helping the team.

“I’ve been training well and working hard, really, and just trying to keep going and improving and doing what I can for the team. You need that bit of luck. Someone might miss a game and you might miss a chance.  “The start of the season the manager did say to me if I keep working hard in training eventually I’d get a chance, and it’s then up to you to try and take it. That’s all I did, keep working hard in training and hoping if I did get my chance that I’d take it. Luckily enough I have.”