Eddie Howe did not get the chance to immediately address his Newcastle United players following their Carabao Cup final defeat because the Magpies boss was whisked away to speak to the media. However, Howe knew there would be a 'positive response' to this 2-0 defeat against Manchester United before he even set foot in the dressing room at Wembley on Sunday evening. Dan Burn vowed: "We will definitely be back" while Kieran Trippier insisted: "This is just the start."
It is certainly hard to imagine Newcastle having to wait another 24 years to reach a cup final and this side will only benefit from this painful experience in the long run. Who is to say Newcastle won't be back at Wembley next season? After all, anything can happen in 12 months.
You only have to look at what has changed in the last year to realise that. Karl Darlow, Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle were among the spectators at Wembley, but the trio were all regulars in the match day squad just a year ago when Newcastle were fighting relegation.
