While suffering with an ‘ongoing foot problem’

Or go to

the cups.” Mowbray is no stranger to a shock in this season’s competition, and was at Portman Road when little Maidstone dumped Ipswich Town out in round four. There could be a shock this time too – only Newcastle are the underdogs.

Mowbray said: “I think this is a different scenario. At Sunderland they didn’t lay a glove on Newcastle, Fulham was 50-50 but Blackburn had a go.

“It is a horrible cliche, I don’t like it, on the outside people will look at it and say, Newcastle have nothing to lose.’ On the inside, there is because it’s the last chance of getting something, if Newcastle get something it changes things.

“European qualification by the league looks a long way off, so actually there is quite a bit of pressure on it. If you are going to do something you are probably going to have to play Man City or Liverpool at some point. You never know.”

Beating Man City pretty much does change everything for Newcastle; lose it and the season’s inquest will open up two months early. A Wembley semi-final think he needs to train regularly to get his best rhythm.”

Howe was also asked why he continued to pick Longstaff if he knew he was struggling. Howe added: “Because I have had no other midfielders to play. I would have rested Sean for sure during this period. I’ve also got to look after Lewis Miley – he is 17. Elliot Anderson hasn’t been available, Sandro Tonali hasn’t been available.” would put a huge sticking plaster over the season in some ways for Howe.

But in others, it means Geordie fans are going to Wembley again and Howe’s chance to make history is still up for grabs as the first man since Joe Harvey to guide the Toon to a trophy.

Mowbray said: “It could change things but look back to last season, at the Carabao Cup final. It was the lesser of the two cup competitions.

“But it didn’t happen, this is just the quarter-final and you have the champions of Europe and the world ahead! It couldn’t be any harder.

“It is just good to hear for the first time in a long time, a Newcastle manager saying how important winning a cup would be. It should have been the case forever.

“I don’t like the idea of any manager saying it is more important to stay in the Premier League.

“I keep all the stats and this season it tends to be managers putting out a strong team.”

It went all the way in the last round, and Mowbray calmly guided Newcastle fans through

Howe also confirmed that the game definitely comes too early for shoulder victim Nick Pope, despite him being back in training for three weeks. And Harvey Barnes will also be missing after suffering a hamstring injury.

When asked about Pope, Howe told The Chronicle: “April is his target, but I think that will be more towards the end of April than the beginning but he’s making good, solid progress. He’s the action. As we come to the end of our chat, the question is could it go to the wire again, and that tender prospect of penalties?

Mowbray said: “You never know. It is a complete lottery, I will be very happy if it goes to penalties, it’ll mean we have a heck of an audience watching and enjoying it.

“And I won’t be too upset about missing Gladiators for a week!”

One thing is for sure, as two managerial Gladiators go head to head in

Howe and Guardiola and scrap it out on the podium, it might not be a million miles away from the exciting and energetic game show that has had families on the edge of their seats for weeks.

Newcastle have every chance, they have already put them (Man City) out of one cup this

season

out on the grass but not necessarily diving. That will be a big test for his shoulder and it’s the next stage. Then, of course, he will have to get his sharpness back. He’s entering into the final furlong in terms of his comeback but he’s still got a lot of hurdles to go through.”

Speaking about Barnes’ timeline, Howe said: “Harvey won’t make the squad but hopefully he will back for West Ham.”