Childhood dream has Howe hopeful

EDDIE HOWE has led Newcastle to the Carabao Cup final and they're heavily tipped to qualify for the Champions League this season.

- By lan Murtagh

But there is still a part of Howe which would give it all up for the chance to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in May.

And that's why the Toon chief will treat today's cup tie at home to Brighton every bit as seriously as this month's Carabao Cup showdown with Liverpool.

The Toon Army would probably forgive Howe if he gave some of his star names a breather this afternoon.

But childhood memories of him dreaming of glory in the world's oldest knockout competition will prevent Howe doing that.

"As a kid, when I was in the garden imagining my career play-acting, the game you were in, it was always the FA Cup final," he said.

"That's never gone away from me.

"The third round was always a big moment in the calendar back in the day and it's still not lost on me that's a big occasion.