THE joy of Newcastle United's first domestic trophy for 70 years and the unbridled euphoria of an open-top bus parade through the streets of the city could have distracted Eddie Howe's team from their pursuit of Champions League qualification.

But successive Premier League wins since that Wembley victory over Liverpool last month, the latest a 3-0 cruise at Leicester City on Monday, means they remain bang on course for a return to Europe's top competition.

Two early goals by Jacob Murphy and another for Harvey Barnes before halftime made it a comfortable night for Newcastle who moved above Manchester City into fifth place.

They are level on 53 points with fourth-placed Chelsea and have a game in hand on them.

"There was a worry when we won the cup that we'd drop. Just a subconscious feeling that you've achieved a massive high and there's a fall from that," Howe said.

"The challenge for the group was can you go again and they've done that well. (A top-four finish) will mean a great deal to us. It's difficult to think too far ahead and think of the implications.

"We need to do our job and that is to win games."

Newcastle host Manchester United at the weekend before another home game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday and they then go to top-four rivals Aston Villa.

"We're playing with confidence but we're going to need it because the next three games are tough," Howe said.

"It's going to hot up. The next week for us is a big week. We have three really tough games and that will go a long way in seeing where we are at the end of the season."

Murphy summed up the buoyant mood at the club.

"It's been unbelievable. The bus tour was out of this world, such a great day. You can see why the greats get addicted to winning trophies, the feeling it gives you," he said.

"Now we're back training, you want that again next season. We want to keep striving for better and taste it again."

Howe's side were ruthless in boosting their Champions League qualification hopes while 19th-placed Leicester became the first side in English Football League history to suffer eight successive home league defeats without scoring.

Leicester set another unwanted club record as they suffered an 11th home league loss of a miserable campaign.

Murphy was left unmarked to slot in the opening goal from Tino Livramento's low cross in the second minute and he had another easy finish to make it 2-0 after Fabian Schar's audacious long-range effort from inside his own half bounced down off the crossbar.

Former Leicester player Harvey Barnes increased the misery for the hosts before halftime with a close-range finish while the home side's luck in front of goal was epitomised when Patson Daka's shot struck both posts before the ball rolled into the hands of Newcastle keeper Nick Pope.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's team showed more resilience after the break and there was an impressive cameo role for 15-year-old substitute Jeremy Monga who became the second youngest player, behind Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, to play in the Premier League.

EASY VICTORY

Newcastle were able to cruise to a victory that put them above champions Manchester City on 53 points from 30 games, level with fourth-placed Chelsea and with a match in hand.

"We know we are in a good position in the table. All we can do is our job and win our games and we will finish in the top four or five," Barnes told Sky Sports. "If we win the games, the teams will be chasing us and not us chasing them."

Leicester have 17 points from 31 games and look destined to join relegated Southampton back in the Championship next season.

Newcastle's third successive league win fuelled the feelgood factor at the club who ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the League Cup final last month.

That Wembley win over Liverpool ensured they will be in Europe next season but they have set their sights on a return to the Champions League and with fifth likely to be good enough they are in a strong position.

Leicester have lost 15 of their last 16 Premier League games and are 15 points adrift of the safety zone.

"I don't know how many games it's been since we last picked up a point," Leicester defender James Justin said.

"It's a horrible moment for the club with how we're playing on the pitch. There is still a chance for us and we have to fight and claw for it but we aren't showing it on the pitch."