Eddie Howe will be keen to disrupt Manchester United's 'momentum' and has already proven Newcastle United can 'overrun' their Carabao Cup final opponents. That is the view of Magpies legend Warren Barton, who believes his former side could enjoy success targeting the Red Devils' full-backs at Wembley.
Howe's side are hoping to enter the club's history books by ending the painful trophy drought in the showpiece occasion on Sunday. Having already dispatched Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Southampton and Tranmere Rovers, the Magpies are now facing their biggest test against one of their top-four rivals.
Manchester United are the form side in the Premier League, having tasted defeat only once since the World Cup break. Erik ten Hag's side are still fighting on four fronts, and face a blockbuster Europa League knockout home tie against Barcelona just three days' before the Carabao Cup final.
READ MORE: Newcastle owners 'not bullied' on £48m plan with clear transfer 'identity' and summer prediction
Newcastle played out a goalless draw at Old Trafford in October, but will be without Nick Pope following the goalkeeper's straight red card in the defeat to Liverpool last time out. Howe's side have regularly frustrated their 'Big Six' rivals this term, but Barton does not expect the head coach to plan to 'grind' out a victory on this occasion.
The Fox Sports pundit told Chronicle Live: "I think you play in certain phases of the game. Eddie won't want to be too cavalier too early, but he won't want them to have momentum.
"I think they are vulnerable in certain areas, you can get at their full-backs and our wide players are good enough to hurt them. I don't see Eddie sitting back trying to grind out a result, maybe in moments of the game but I think he has shown when there is a right time, we can get forward and overrun them.
"Manchester United are very much a forward-thinking team, it leaves them a bit exposed. I think Eddie will go out there to win, not to frustrate them but we'll go toe to toe. Eddie will be positive in his outlook, and he's built a team which does play a good brand of football and he wants to hurt teams and overrun them.
"I'm sure Manchester United will be thinking the same thing, but we have a mindset in the Premier League where we don't lose games. We're hard to play against and score against, they have to overcome that."
Newcastle lifting a trophy in Howe's first full season in charge would have been beyond the expectations of even the most ambitious members of the Toon Army at the beginning of the campaign. Having comfortably avoided relegation last term, the Magpies now have a Wembley date to look forward to before resuming their unexpected top-four tilt.
Newcastle could follow in the footsteps of Chelsea and Manchester City with success on Sunday, with both clubs securing the League Cup as their first major honour following big-money takeovers. Barton feels the Magpies are still riding the wave of momentum since the buyout was finally confirmed in October 2021, and reckons a trophy even at this stage would help cement a 'winning mentality' at St James' Park.
The former full-back said: "I think it's huge. Last season, we were saying after the takeover, you need to get momentum. When you've got the momentum doing well, fifth in the league and looking at the Champions League, you get to a cup final and I think it's fitting to play against someone like Manchester United.
"They are a big, big club with ambitions themselves, and all we've ever wanted is to try and compete against teams at that level. We've got momentum at the moment, we have a feel-good factor and it would be huge for the club to win silverware.
"You look at what Mourinho and Pep have done at clubs, silverware breeds a winning mentality. It's not easy to get to finals, you have to have a little bit of luck, play well at certain moments and they've done that.
"It should be exciting because Newcastle United and Manchester United are both playing well, it'll be a good occasion and I bet the sponsors are happy to have two big clubs going toe to toe like that."
Newcastle have lost only three times this season, but are still considered the underdogs in the upcoming final. Howe and a host of first-team stars insist the Magpies are not descending upon the capital for a day out, but if the worst was to happen, Barton is adamant it would not derail the growing momentum on Tyneside.
He added: "We all don't want to put the knockers on it, but whatever we do, we're going to embrace it as we've got the football club back together again. If it ends with silverware and we're all dancing in the streets of Newcastle, fantastic.
"Regardless though, everyone is proud of the club, the way we're playing and with the coach, the owners and the players. No-one wants to tempt fate, but it's been a great season.
"The football club is back, but we want to compete and win. Nothing will dampen the spirits with one or two games. In the bigger picture, we want to be competing and winning.
"Once we sit back in May in the beer gardens, we'll be saying we enjoyed that season and want to go again. Next season will be pressure and expectations, but you've got to enjoy that."
READ NEXT
Newcastle star who has proven 'boo boys' wrong and needs Bruno Guimaraes to keep 'progressing'
Allan Saint-Maximin told it's 'down to him' if he wants to remain part of Newcastle 'juggernaut'
Kieran Trippier insists Newcastle 'not cheating' as Manchester United family show true colours
Erik ten Hag copies Eddie Howe mantra as Newcastle benefit from Manchester United distraction
Callum Wilson's frank response to Liverpool top-four question after Newcastle defeat
