Team spirit is key to facing City - Howe

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe hopes his battle-weary troops can take their indomitable spirit into their Carabao Cup semifinal showdown with Manchester City after staging another late show.

- DAMIAN SPELLMAN

Four days after scoring twice in stoppage time to seal a 4-3 Premier League win over Leeds, the Magpies scored a last-gasp penalty to take Saturday's FA Cup third-round game with Bournemouth into extra time and ultimately a successful penalty shootout.

Victory came at a cost with Tino Livramento suffering a hamstring injury which will see him join fellow defenders Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth on the sidelines with Sven Botman still working his way back to full match-fitness, but Howe was buoyed by his team’s latest display of character.