Alexander Isak wants to banish his injury-hit start to his Newcastle career by firing the Toon to Wembley.
The Sweden international suffered feelings of “guilt” after signing for £56million, scoring twice, then missing four months and 13 games through injury. Isak is targeting becoming Newcastle’s lead centre-forward, which means going head-to-head with England star Callum Wilson.
Eddie Howe’s men have a rare chance to clinch a semi-final berth - their first for 18 years - if they beat Leicester at a sold-out St James’ Park on Tuesday night. Isak is fit again after playing 45 minutes in the FA Cup defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and wants more game time in the big one.
He said: “It was frustrating to be injured. When you come to a new club, you can’t really be out. But it helped a lot, personally, that the team has done so well and won most of the games. That helped and gives you more room to focus on your own recovery.
“Looking at the team inside the dressing room, you can really see we want to bounce back from the Sheffield game. It is positive we have a new chance straight away. I know the team wants to do it. The gaffer was pointing it out too. After a loss like at the weekend, we have to bounce back.”
Isak was aware that Newcastle have not won a domestic trophy since 1955, with Howe saying they are keen to give the fans an away day at Wembley and some memories. He added: “We want a new chapter. Yes, of course. You have seen the quality of this team when we do well. It is a game at a time and see how far we go.”
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Asked what his best position was and where he wants to play, Isak replied: “I am a centre-forward. That is my position and where I am best. Then I think I have quite a wide game, so could do other things as well, so that is not for me to decide.
“I was excited to start against Sheffied, so many fans had travelled, but I am a bit gutted that we couldn’t give them anything more. It is really positive we have a new game on Tuesday to put it right for the fans.”
Reflecting on a tough time out and not being integrated into the starting line-up, Isak added: “I got injured back with the national team. It was my thigh. It can happen that there are complications in the progress. I just did my best and worked as hard as possible to get back. Now I am back, I am happy and don’t want to really focus too much on the injury.
“It was really difficult. It is something you can’t control, once it has happened. For me, it was to accept it and try to get fit as quick. It wasn’t that quick, but I am happy now. Now, I want to score or give assists every game.”
As for longer-term ambitions, Isak wants to play in the Champions Leahue with the Toon. He added: "That would be great, that would be incredible for the club. That is too far ahead to look at. We must go one game at a time and then go for the three points each week. We will see how it looks as we get closer to the end."
Boss Howe wants a strong reaction to the Hillsborough defeat and he will play his strongest line-up after making eight changes at the weekend.
Howe said: "It’s an opportunity and we need to be highly motivated for the game. I am sure we will be. We will need 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. 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."
Allan Saint Maximin has trained after illness and Wilson is available again, with Nick Pope and Fabian Schar hopeful of being fit. Howe said: “The Carabao Cup, in the latter stages, now takes on huge importance.
“The fact it’s earlier in the season, you have a better chance of playing your stronger team. 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.”
Newcastle thrashed Leicester on Boxing Day but Howe warned: “This game will be different. Brendan [Rodgers] is a very good tactician. 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.”
