Sean Longstaff admits that Newcastle United players would rather have spent the weekend fighting for another trip to Wembley than enjoying the warm weather in Dubai.
The Geordie midfielder helped Newcastle pick up three points on Friday night before jetting off to the Middle East for the club's mid-season training camp in the United Arab Emirates. A similar journey to a luxury resort last year helped push Newcastle to an impressive 11th place finish after the Magpies had been threatened by relegation for all but the last two months of the season.
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But now the stakes have been raised in the last 12 matches with a Champions League place up for grabs and Newcastle - incredibly - just a handful of victories away from at least securing a possible Europa Conference League spot.
Speaking after the 2-1 win at Forest, Longstaff told Chronicle Live: "It is a massive 12 games coming up. But it is good we have a little break now.
"Obviously, we'd rather have been playing in the FA Cup but everything happens for a reason. Like I say it is our chance to get a break, get some players back fit.
"It will be a massive 12 games, we have put ourselves in a really good position. And I am sure we will all be excited for them."
The Magpies earned their win at the City Ground thanks to a last gasp penalty from Alexander Isak in stoppage time. Longstaff hailed the team spirit of United after fighting back from a goal down.
Longstaff said: "It was (controversial) and going 1-0 down in the Premier League is never easy anyway. But we showed great grit and great character.
"We have real quality on the pitch. We always knew we were going to create chances so it was just about staying patient and try not to get into a fight.
"That's what happened in the second half and we probably played into their hands a little bit. I thought overall we deserved three points, it is a massive win in our season."
Longstaff also had huge praise for Newcastle's young playmaker Elliot Anderson after he came on and changed the game.
Longstaff added: "Yeah I was so happy for Elliot, he changed the game for us when he came on and was outstanding.
"He's been like that everyday in training to be honest. Behind the scenes that's what he's like.
"I felt so bad when his goal got chalked off because it was me offside. I don't really know what I was meant to do though!
"I was gutted for him. I said to him this is why you work so hard behind the scenes because there will be a moment where we need you.
"I thought he came in and stepped up. He showed everybody how good he was, and if it wasn't for him we probably wouldn't have got the three points."
