Eddie Howe has reiterated that he is 'desperate' to win a trophy for Newcastle United as the Magpies bid to take another small step towards ending their drought against Bournemouth.
Newcastle face Howe's former side in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup at St James' Park on Tuesday night in the Magpies' first competitive game since the World Cup break. Following years of disappointment in the cups, Howe's vow to take the competition seriously has captured the imagination of the fanbase and, remarkably, the tie sold out nearly three weeks in advance as supporters dare to dream once again.
Even the measured Howe has already visualised what it would be like to one day end the club's wait for silverware - it has been 53 long years since that Fairs Cup win - and Argentina's World Cup victory got the Newcastle boss thinking once more. While Newcastle are just taking one game at a time, the joyous scenes after La Albiceleste's dramatic penalty shootout win against France did not go unnoticed at the weekend.
READ MORE: Everything Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe said on Bournemouth, injuries and January
"When you see the celebrations and what it means to the people of the country, you try and relate that to your own situation," he told reporters. "It's been a long wait for a trophy here. We're desperate to try and end that, and hopefully see similar scenes."
Howe gave his players a talk earlier this season on the club's past - challenging the squad to create their own history - and references have been made to the fact that Newcastle have not won a domestic cup competition since 1955. Newcastle have never won the League Cup, of course, and even making it into the last eight tomorrow night would feel like progress given the Magpies' poor record in recent years.
While Bournemouth certainly won't make it easy, after frustrating Newcastle on their last visit to St James' back in September, this still feels like a real opportunity for Howe's side after the draw opened up. In fact, for the first time in years, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea have already been knocked out at this relatively early stage while Man City will meet holders Liverpool later this week.
Home advantage could yet prove crucial against Bournemouth - just as it did in the penalty shootout win against Crystal Palace in the previous round. Although this tie has been brought forward by 24 hours because of planned NHS strike action, history looks set to be made before a ball is even kicked with the club's largest ever home attendance in the competition.
"Incredible response from the supporters," Howe said. "It doesn't surprise me. You just look at the friendly against [Rayo] Vallecano and the support we had in that game. Truly incredible numbers.
"I go back to the Chelsea game. That was an incredible atmosphere. It was very difficult for the opposition to play in. Creating that type of environment was a two-way thing. We did that with our energy on the pitch and the supporters backed us to the hilt.
"It was a brilliant experience. We would love to get that feeling back straight away. That's going to depend on how we start the game."
That aforementioned win against Chelsea was the last time Newcastle played a competitive game at St James' and it remains to be seen just how many survivors from that 1-0 victory start on Tuesday night. Howe has certainly kept Bournemouth guessing after fielding one XI in a training game last Friday and then a completely different side in the friendly win against Rayo Vallecano a day later.
However, while supporters saw scratch sides put out in the cups during some low points in the Ashley era, Howe will once again field a team he feels can send the Magpies into the last eight after setting his players the challenge of 'putting in a Newcastle performance straight away in a cup competition that means a lot to us'.
"I want to win the game," he added. "I'm desperate to win the game. I'm desperate to progress. We want to stay in the competition. We want the extra games so that's how I'm approaching the game."
READ NEXT
Newcastle find 16-year-old who first-teamer scarily admits is better than he was at same age
Allan Saint-Maximin's reaction that Eddie Howe loved as Newcastle players see new side to him
Special Newcastle stadium moment happened away from main cameras before Rayo Vallecano friendly
Newcastle owners' dream, exciting 'not ready for what's coming' message and mentality changes
Trippier shouts at Newcastle players, Howe's top Lejeune moment and stadium advantage - 5 things
