Newcastle United

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Brentford at St James' Park (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On how the international break impacted match preparations: "We tried to do a lot of work in between. We trained really hard in Dubai and now that the group is back together we have tried to focus on the future, the next game."

• Howe reflecting on Carabao Cup win: "The Liverpool game was a great performance, but we want to be consistent with our performances."

• On the open-top bus parade: "An amazing day - still some vivid memories of it. A massive thank you to everybody who turned up - as it was cold! Not everyone could get to Wembley and we know football is expensive to either to travel or to buy tickets for games. It shows the power football possesses. It can change people's mood, can change the city's mood, and I just think it was a great day for everyone connected in Newcastle."

• Howe said defender Sven Botman is "not too bad" after a minor knee operation and is expected back in May.

• Winger Anthony Gordon is now "up and running" after pulling out of the England squad with "bruising on his thigh" and is expected to be back training with the group within the next few days.

• Howe "does not know" whether Jamal Lascelles will return before the end of the season but the defender has started to take "very small steps" in light training.

• The Magpies boss expects centre-back Fabian Schar to sign a new contract "immediately if he hasn't already".

• On Brentford: "We played them in the Carabao Cup so we know their strengths. Thomas [Frank] has done an incredible job. They are very good at set-plays, and their away form has really turned around. They are a really high-scoring team as well, so it should be a good game."

• On Newcastle's ambitions for Champions League qualification: "There is no doubting the power of Champions League football. It can be game-changing in terms of revenue - the competition itself and the changes you have to make to be ready for the competition, as we found out to our cost to some degree last year."

• He added: "Qualifying for that is going to be very difficult. There are 10 games left and a lot of teams are playing for those places. It's one of the tightest Premier Leagues we have seen a while, with not a lot separating us."

Listen to more from Howe on BBC Sounds

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of Newcastle v Brentford at 19:45 on Wednesday

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Some 31 of the past 36 FA Cups have been won by one of five teams - but only one of those remains in this season's competition, and that is Manchester City.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all knocked out before the quarter-final stage this season and that has opened the door to other clubs to have a chance at getting their hands on the trophy.

"The cup used to be a lot more democratic and dominance of the cup used to be unthinkable," said New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That is unhealthy and it gets boring.

"It takes away a lot of the magic because if you go to seven semi-finals in seven years it takes the shine off.

"But most people don't support those clubs and they support other teams, so Newcastle have been a great advert to why other teams should be going all in for those tournaments."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Newcastle's win will change the perception of the competitions that have almost felt second in importance to most Premier League teams."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Arsenal are considering Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike as an alternative target to Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. (Mirror), external

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The memories of Newcastle's Carabao Cup win and Saturday's victory parade will live long.

So as Newcastle prepare to return to Premier League action on Wednesday against Brentford, here's one final video to enjoy...

Image source, Getty Images

Veteran Newcastle United journalist John Gibson believes Eddie Howe ranks second in a list of the club's greatest managers of all time after winning the Carabao Cup earlier this month.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast, Gibson said: "In one fell swoop, Eddie Howe has elbowed Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan, two of the greatest managers in Newcastle's history, out of the way.

"I adore them both for what they gave us, they played the right way, but if this is a results game, which football is, they won nothing and he has just won something.

"The only guy that stands in his way now is Joe Harvey, because he won a European trophy."

Newcastle are sixth in the Premier League table, two points off the top four, and return to league action against Brentford on Wednesday.

Gibson added: "Since the takeover, this has not been the most consistent season. We've been up and down, we've lost home games that we shouldn't lose and it has been a pogo stick, up and down.

"This guy [Howe] has made a massive step forward and the team has done that too. We must admire that."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

On Friday night I drove through Newcastle city centre. The wind was picking up and the black and white flags that had been put into position all through the town - out of windows on multi-storey car parks, out of windows of department stores - were flying. But town was quiet. Everyone knew the party was on Saturday.

And WHAT a party.

A common thought in the head of every Newcastle United fan heads over the past 50 or so years has been: "Can you imagine what it would be like if we actually won something?"

Imagine no more.

It was like this: 300,000 people lining the streets to cheer our cup winners (around the total population of Newcastle city!). A mad scramble to have one of the open top buses pass its MOT. Our team captain, Bruno Guimaraes, smilingly offering profanities on stage as tens of thousands in the audience cheer and Eddie Howe laughs in the background. A drone show, capturing the Dan Burn header that has been etched into club's history books.

It was magic.

The energy in the whole city, for the whole day, was something you could almost grasp onto. Kids climbed onto the shoulders of the Sir Bobby Robson statue, up lampposts, onto bus shelters. All to catch a glimpse of the silverware we have waited so long for.

The players themselves looked like they were having the best time, leading us in chants, lifting the cup, and getting selfies with Ant and Dec.

It was the party we knew we would get eventually, and it surpassed all expectations.

I know this is only the beginning for Newcastle United, but what a beginning it is.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Here are some more of your images from Newcastle's unforgettable day of celebration on Saturday:

Image source, Getty Images

If you're still not over yesterday... relive Newcastle United's Carabao Cup celebrations with a special BBC Radio Newcastle featuring interviews with Ant and Dec, Dan Burn and Alan Shearer.

Listen to the full special on BBC Sounds

And we still want your pictures of the day - send in over here

We had plenty of you wanting to get involved with sending your thoughts and pictures of Newcastle's Carabao Cup celebrations on Saturday.

Here are some of your replies:

Mike: An unbelievable day for young and old, and a celebration that showed just how much our city and region love the club and those who play in our "colours"!

James: Amazing, amazing day, I travelled from London and was so happy I did. I wouldn't have missed the excitement and buzz. What a truly great city and people. The photo is of my best mate & true geordie boy Willie Foley!

Ben: Unbelievable day! Nothing more to say!

Peter: Watching the first trophy parade in 60 years

Ant: Sandro Ole Ole Ole!!

Send any more pictures and thoughts of the day that you may have - by using this form

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Burn says he will "never tire" of watching his Carabao Cup final goal and Newcastle's celebrations, despite saying he was embarrassed on international duty by the number of times the goal was replayed - which even led to him turning televisions off.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle about the club's open top bus parade, the defender said: "It's something I'll never forget - I knew there would be a lot of people but when we saw the sheer amount of people it was amazing.

"It really hit home, what it means to the region and the city, the achievement that we've managed to do.

"The lads were starting chants all the way round and just being able to take in that moment, it was only an hour but it's an hour I'll never forget."

The 32-year-old has had a memorable few weeks, scoring in the Carabao Cup final victory and then making his England debut.

"It's been good, it's strange that everything I wanted to happen has happened within two weeks, I've tried to be as present as I can and focus on what I was doing," he said of the last fortnight.

"Today it's been nice to reflect on what I've been able to do the last couple of weeks, obviously now box off this whole little adventure before concentrating on the next game."

When asked how many times he has watched his goal back, he replied: "A lot.

"The first few days, my phone was getting constantly pinged with videos and remixes, when I was away with the England lads it was on TV all the time and I ended up having to switch the TVs off at the end because I was starting to get a bit embarrassed!

"I will watch it forever, I'll never tire of it - it was an amazing moment."

Listen to the full interview here

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Hundreds of thousands of Newcastle fans filled the city's streets and crowded round the stage on the Town Moor on Saturday to toast their team once more for their Carabao Cup success.

Here's how the day unfolded.

Image source, Getty Images

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Image source, PA Media

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Nick Pope has been speaking about how much Newcastle's Carabao Cup success means to the club and the extra motivation he had to help the club win silverware after missing out on the trophy two years earlier.

Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle during the club's open top bus parade, the Newcastle goalkeeper said: "You can't put it into words - it's unbelievably special.

"The fans [at Wembley] carried us so much, to be able to pay them back in the moment was amazing.

"On the day we were magnificent and the much better team!

"But, to be here today and see all these faces, you really get to see what it means to everyone in the city."

Speaking about what it meant to him personally, he added: "I've not got many medals in my career - so I better look after this one!

"It's not been out of my sight much yet. Two years ago was difficult, I've still got the runners up medal in my locker but it's been a big motivator for myself.

"When you see what it means and the journey since then - it means a lot."

Listen to Nick Pope's interview here

Image source, Getty Images

Details of Saturday's open-top bus parade and open-air event to celebrate Newcastle's Carabao Cup final win have been announced by the club.

We want you to send images from your day - and don't forget a few words to tell us how it went - by using this form.

The bus will depart from St. James' Park at approximately 16:30 on Saturday and will be arriving at the Town Moor for a ticketed event at approximately 17:00.

The timeline for the day is as follows:

13:30 - Town Moor site opens

14:00 - Carabao Cup Final replay on Town Moor screens

16:00 - Main Stage entertainment starts (Town Moor)

16:30 - Bus parade begins (St. James' Park)

17:00 - Bus parade arrives at the Town Moor

17:00 - Q&A with legends

18:35 - Players on stage

19:00 - Sela 'Spectacular Surprise'

19:30 - Event finishes

The Magpies' historic Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool at Wembley before the international break secured the club's first silverware since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, and their first domestic trophy for 70 years.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier this week Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah was linked with a move to Newcastle in the newspapers.

The team on BBC Radio Merseyside were joined by fan Luke Leiva to discuss the possibility of Quansah leaving and he said: "I think it's more speculation, to be honest. He has had a really difficult season, but I think he is finding his feet again.

"He isn't going to go to Newcastle and be a starter, and Liverpool have just given him a new deal. I can't see him leaving, and I would be devastated if he did. I think he has a massive upturn in potential - and he is in the England setup, so Thomas Tuchel clearly thinks that as well."

Listen to more audio about the Reds from BBC Radio Merseyside

Ever since Newcastle's historic win at Wembley BBC Radio Newcastle have received a lot of calls and messages from fans telling them how much it meant to them and their family.

As well as a moment of celebration, it also seems to have been a moment of reflection – remembering the people who weren't there to witness them lift the cup.

Listen to BBC Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds

Newcastle have joined Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool in expressing their interest in Lille's Canada striker Jonathan David, 25. (i Sport), external

Manchester United are racing Newcastle and a number of top European clubs to sign Frankfurt's 22-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike. (Football Insider), external

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