18 December 2023 , 12:29
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Eddie Howe has cancelled Christmas because his Newcastle players are too busy playing games to have a party.
In the past Toon stars, like other rivals, have held an annual knees-up. They once even dressed as superheroes. But with a Carabao Cup quarter final against Chelsea to play on Tuesday - and a new mission set to challenge for the top four again - Howe says there won’t be any big celebrations.
Newcastle were dumped out of Europe last week after losing their final Champions League game 2-1 at home to AC Milan. They were poised to reach the knockout stages, but second-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chuckwueze ended their hopes.
Howe said at his pre-match press conference on Monday: "Christmas party? Dressing up as superheroes? I certainly hope not. If they are, it is unknown to me. We have got too many games, too busy a schedule for a party like that I hope.
"We want the games, we want the competition. We want the excitement of challenging for trophies. That's where we have to be, not just now but in the future. January sounds like a good month doesn't it, it sounds like a lot of fun, I'm looking forward to that."
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Newcastle were beaten finalists in last season's Carabao Cup, but Howe said: "The dream didn't turn to reality, but maybe this year."
Howe has 11 stars out injured and Sandro Tonali banned. On top of that bad luck the Toon have had horrendous cup draws this season including Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, both Manchester giants and now Chelsea.
They'll be little festive cheer at St James' Park this Christmas (Getty Images)Do you think Eddie Howe was right to cancel Newcastle's Christmas party? Let us know in the comments below!
Howe added: "It’s no fun if it’s easy, is it? We’ve been thrust into the most difficult cup draws and taken us out of our comfort zone. It’s made us improve. It’s a positive. It is forcing us to improve continually and to be the team we want to be long term, we have to be exposed to those games to get closer."
In better injury news, Sven Botman is fit enough to start, Alexander Isak could be available but is being nursed through groin fatigue. Harvey Barnes is four to five weeks away, and Joelinton declared himself possible on Saturday, despite tugging a hamstring.
Howe hits a century of Toon games at Stamford Bridge and said: "I was surprised, it seems like it's absolutely flown by. I've loved every second of it. For the next 100? I just think if the players give me everything they've done in the first 100 games and they continue to do that, I'll take whatever comes.
"I'm very much looking at the team as being the epitome of everything we work towards day to day and I think the players have not disappointed for a second in my time here. I've got a brilliant squad, not just as players but as people. I'm very proud to lead them."