Ayegbeni Yakubu struck twice to send Everton back into Europe for the third time in four seasons. The Nigerian forward took his tally for the campaign to 21 to ensure his side finished fifth in the Premier League and qualified for the Uefa Cup.

Yakubu's first was a powerful header, and his second a late penalty. In between Joleon Lescott had settled Everton's nerves by putting them ahead again after a Michael Owen penalty had taken Newcastle level seconds into the second-half.

At one stage Aston Villa - hoping to finish above Everton in the league - were leading at West Ham United, but that game ended 2-2. By then, though, Everton had all but secured victory, having held fifth place since the new year.

Everton were without Tony Hibbert and Andrew Johnson through injury, while Lescott was passed fit knowing he will need treatment on a knee problem during the summer.

Newcastle were missing Geremi, Joey Barton, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins from the side that lost at home to Chelsea on Monday. Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Charles N'Zogbia and Andrew Carroll came into the line-up.

On his league debut, 20 year-old Carroll had the first shot, an effort on the turn that forced Tim Howard into a save to his right. Manuel Fernandes then fired over from 20 yards for Everton, while Yakubu saw a low drive just miss the far post, with Anichebe just inches away from a connection.

Peter Walton, the referee, had been lenient over a few tackles and some clear holding but booked Damien Duff for pulling back Fernandes. Fernandes got up to take the free kick, and lifted it into the box for Yakubu to send a header past Steve Harper, the Newcastle goalkeeper, after 28 minutes.

Newcastle's response was a 25-yard free-kick from N'Zogbia that dipped a foot over Howard's bar, but they were penned back from then on. Yakubu had the ball in the net again with a close-range header, set-up by Lescott's nod back into the six-yard box. But Lescott was judged marginally offside and the effort was ruled out.

Harper punched away from Fernandes and Leon Osman curled a 20-yarder just wide as Everton sought to make the most of possession and territorial advantage. Then Harper managed to save a Yakubu effort at full stretch, before fumbling the ball behind as he lay on the pitch.

The onslaught continued when Anichebe saw a header fly just over before Harper saved well from an Osman drive. Newcastle were hanging on now for the break and only a Harper kick away from Steven Pienaar avoided more trouble.

Newcastle replaced the injured Abdoulaye Faye with Claudio Cacapa at the break, and they were level within 30 seconds of the restart. Joseph Yobo, caught off balance by a swerving run by N'Zogbia, upended the Newcastle forward in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Owen converted the penalty to become the first visiting player to score in four successive appearances at Goodison Park since Tom Finney in the 1950s.

lan Smith was booked for a foul on Pienaar after 65 minutes, Everton now having nothing like the grip on the game they had in the first half. Victor Anichebe broke away and fired across goal, Yakubu not being close enough to turn it home.

But Everton were ahead again after 70 minutes when Fernandes' chip into the box was flicked on by Steven Taylor to Lescott, who rolled the ball into the far corner of the goal.

Osman's run into the box after 82 minutes was met with Taylor's challenge, taking man and not ball and the referee evened up the spot-kicks with one that Yakubu drilled home.

Everton sent on Leighton Baines and Thomas Gravesen with six minutes left for Yobo and Anichebe. Gravesen, whose loan from Celtic will not be renewed, got a tremendous reception from fans on his last appearance for the club.