Newcastle United defender Davide Santon has targeted European qualification for his side next season.

The Magpies struggled in the Premier League during the last campaign and narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.

However, Santon believes that the upcoming season could bring European football back to St James' Park.

"When I came here, I came from Inter [Milan] and the dream was to play in Europe at St James' Park," Santon told the Evening Chronicle. "We did that last season. Now the dream is to go back there.

"Newcastle is a big club and we have all of the resources to play in those big games. We have great fans and we are a well-supported team like Inter. We know we have to improve on last season.

"We have shown we have a good team here, I feel like we are a team that can beat anybody - especially at St James' Park. One day I hope to go back to the San Siro wearing a black-and-white shirt. That would be the ultimate dream for me."

Santon joined Newcastle from Inter in 2011.