Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe plays down Manchester United revenge mission

LONDON – Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said revenge is not on his mind, ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup trip to Manchester United for a repeat of last season’s final.

Howe’s side

were beaten 2-0 at Wembley in February

as Newcastle’s agonisingly long wait for a first domestic trophy, stretching back to 1955, was extended for at least another season.

Erik ten Hag’s team have been disappointing this season and were brushed aside

3-0 in the Manchester derby

at the weekend.

However, Howe was adamant that rubbing salt into United’s wounds and gaining vengeance was not top of his priority list.

“That’s not our emotion as I sit here now. Our emotion is just to try to prepare and win the game. One win and we’re into the quarter-final of the competition,” he said on the eve of the fourth-round tie.

Despite United’s poor form, Howe believes ten Hag’s men are still fighting for the cause.

“They’ve got some very good results lately and have won some games late. They’ve shown some real character and spirit in those difficult moments to come through those challenges,” he said.

“Whenever you play Manchester United, they’re very, very difficult games. When you go into a cup tie, to a degree you leave that form behind. This is a one-off game and I’m sure both teams will be motivated to try and win.”

Newcastle have recovered well after a frustrating start to the season and are sixth in the English Premier League table after

Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wolves.

Injuries to several players in recent weeks, as well as a

10-month ban handed down to Sandro Tonali

for breaching betting rules, has stretched Howe’s squad, with the Champions League an added commitment this season.

“You can have a game where you lose one or two players and suddenly the outlook and dynamic of the squad changes. But you just have to roll with the punches, absorb the hits and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” he said.

“It’s not ideal for us, especially with the season we have. It’s a totally different feel to last season where we could maybe absorb those hits a bit easier with the week-to-week games.

“We’re not in that position now, so we’re going to need everybody in the squad to step up, which is the key message. Everyone has to give a bit more.”

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta expects Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to have a “beautiful” return to former club West Ham United in another League Cup clash on Wednesday.

Rice left the London Stadium to make

a £105 million (S$174.5 million) move across London to the Gunners

in the close season.

The England star captained West Ham to victory in the Europa Conference League final last season in his last game for the club he joined at the age of 14.

West Ham fans have often reserved hostile receptions for former players.

Frank Lampard had to endure years of abuse after his switch to Chelsea and Paul Ince was lambasted following his move to Manchester United.

But, on the eve of Rice’s first trip back to West Ham since the transfer, Arsenal boss Arteta said he believed the 24-year-old would be given a warm welcome.

“It will be his first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment for him, I think... I had a chance to do it a few times and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at the club,” Arteta said on Tuesday.

He suggested Rice would be involved in the fourth-round tie in some way, although the Spaniard is expected to make widespread changes to rest players during a gruelling schedule of Premier League and Champions League matches.

“Every time you hear him talk about West Ham and what they did for him and everybody at the club, he cannot talk any higher of them. So hopefully they will be the same way towards him’’ he said. AFP