Newcastle boss Eddie Howe set to name strongest possible team for Carabao Cup tie against Leicester
‘We’ll be going full strength to win the match’: Eddie Howe vows to play his best Newcastle XI for Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Leicester after shock FA Cup exit – as Magpies bid to reach their first domestic semi-final in 18 years
- Eddie Howe will name his strongest side when Newcastle take on Leicester
- Newcastle are determined to prevail and reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
- Howe wants Newcastle to bounce back from their loss to Sheffield Wednesday
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Eddie Howe has vowed to name his strongest XI as Newcastle United bid to make a domestic semi-final for the first time in 18 years.
The Magpies host Leicester City on Tuesday night in the last eight of the Carabao Cup, four days on from their FA Cup third-round exit against League One Sheffield Wednesday.
Howe made eight changes for that game and paid the price as a below-par Newcastle were beaten by third-tier opposition for the second time in 12 months at the first stage of the competition.
Eddie Howe will name his strongest team as Newcastle take on Leicester in the Carabao Cup
Callum Wilson is set to return to lead the line and Sportsmail understands Allan Saint-Maximin, missing at Hillsborough because of illness, is expected to declare himself available. Nick Pope will also return in goal.
Howe knows a sold-out St James’ Park will not accept anything less than total commitment to winning the game.
‘We’ll be going full strength to win the match,’ said the head coach, whose club last won a domestic trophy 68 years ago. ‘It’s an opportunity (to bounce back from Saturday) and we need to be highly motivated for the game. I am sure we will be.’
‘We will need a real energy from everyone to get the crowd into the game. We have a lot to be positive about and need to get Saturday out of our system very quickly. This is the biggest game of our season, because it is the next game.
Newcastle will be looking to respond after losing against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup
‘But it does have a special meaning, we understand that. We need what we have had every home game, a brilliant atmosphere and environment where the team can excel and feel free to give their best.’
Alexander Isak is likely to revert to the bench after coming through 45 minutes on his return from a four-month thigh lay-off at the weekend, as Howe added: ‘He’s getting closer. Hopefully Saturday will do him good and he’ll be involved. We want him fit and available as quickly as possible. I felt that 45 minutes was his maximum on Saturday.’
Howe has defended his decision to field a weakened team in the FA Cup and says the fact the Carabao Cup is already in the latter stages has elevated the tie in importance.
‘The fact it’s earlier in the season you have a better chance of playing your stronger team,’ he said. ‘Saturday’s game, the timing, that was difficult because of Tuesday’s upcoming game. It was a very quick turnaround on the back of a congested league period. But the Carabao Cup, in the latter stages, now takes on huge importance.
‘Psychologically, it would be a great thing for us to get through to a two-legged semi-final. We want to experience that, but we have a very different tough opponent in our way. We have to be more clinical. If we look back at the Leeds game (0-0, New Year’s Eve) and Saturday, there were too many chances not taken.’
Striker Alexander Isak could have a significant part to play as Newcastle face Leicester
