In case you had forgotten, there's the small matter of West Ham United away, in the Premier League, before Newcastle United and thousands of their diehard supporters make the trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.
Many are asking: is this the opportunity to rest some key, tired bodies before the big day? This is an option that will appeal to a decent chunk of the St James' Park faithful given a bruising week of negative injury news.
Eddie Howe, however, is not subscribing to that notion at all. [Quizzed on the matter on Friday, he said:](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/eddie-howe-newcastle-united-live-31146065) "It is an important game, our Premier League form is hugely important and we need to get back on track, we need to build momentum on winning and [the best chance we have to win any cup is to go into that game (the final) feeling as good as we can.](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-make-carabao-cup-31149341)
"We will pick our strongest team, resting players doesn't come into my head and if you think resting a player for two weeks before a huge game is good for them, that is not the case, they need regular football to give them the best chance of being fit and also to perform."
Is that the right approach, however? Should Newcastle protect their star players ahead of the cup final to give themselves the best possible chance of ending 70 years without domestic silverware? Our Chronicle Live writers give their verdict.
Aaron Stokes
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Eddie has spoken. In his eyes, unsurprisingly, the West Ham United game is all that matters. There will be no tinkering, no resting, no half measures for a game of big importance in the Premier League.
Could there be a compromise made, however? Maybe just the odd tweak here or there? The only reason I am saying this, of course, is due to the extremely thin nature of Howe's squad at present. Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento and Alexander Isak all suffered minor knocks in the Brighton loss, while Bruno Guimaraes looks shattered. Joelinton is only just back from injury too.
For what its worth, I understand Howe's point. A win in the capital not only gives United a huge pre-final confidence boost but also hands the north east outfit three crucial points in the race for Europe. Start the big guns, put the Hammers away early and then get those key men taken off ahead of the full-time whistle to save their legs.
Lee Ryder
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I'd not even contemplate playing a weakened team because generally the more you try to avoid disaster it will come chasing after you and Newcastle are becoming worryingly good at it after the Nick Pope and Anthony Gordon incidents. Also, this won't even trouble Liverpool who will concentrate on their own strengths, so why don't we think about trying to emulate them in that sense?
That said, if Newcastle find themselves in a decent position I see no issue in taking people off a little earlier than normal, especially Alexander Isak. Eddie Howe is pretty much down to the bare bones now, but resting six or seven players and sending them into the cup final cold after a fortnight without a game is sheer lunacy.
Play a strong team then deal with the consequences afterwards. Playing a weakened team would be a small-fry move.
Ciaran Kelly
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Absolutely not. What is the one thing Newcastle United need right now? Momentum. If Newcastle were to effectively write off this game by playing a weakened side at West Ham, and lose, the Magpies would go into the final against Europe's form side off the back of four defeats in just five matches.
There is always a risk with injuries and suspensions, of course, and Newcastle need no reminding of that after a damaging week, but I would instead see this game as a dress rehearsal of sorts, a chance to field Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon's replacements, who have a welcome chance to line up together on the left-hand side just a few days before Wembley.
Newcastle should go as strong as possible in my view because this game carries huge importance. Not just in terms of going into the Carabao Cup final with confidence but, also, in keeping the pressure on in the race for the Champions League.
Only six points separate Nottingham Forest in third and Aston Villa in 10th so Newcastle can ill-afford to drop more points. The black-and-whites need to keep the pressure on.
Ross Gregory
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I've seen Newcastle United play in the Champions League. I've seen them finish fifth, sixth, seventh. I've never seen them win a trophy.
This is a chance for Newcastle's players to write their name in the annals of history. To do what Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Kevin Keegan, Paul Gascoigne never did. These opportunities don't come around very often.
So yes, I'd play a weakened team. I know that players want to play, get into a rhythm, momentum. I know that they could just as easily get injured in training as they could a game. But it's all about minimising the risk for me.
There's three or four players who absolutely need a run-out - Joelinton needs game time, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes too. But some don't. They need protecting. Imagine Alexander Isak gets an injury, or Tino Livramento. Sandro Tonali or one of the two centre-halves. I'm not saying give the full team the night off but Eddie Howe is being a bit contradictory when he says you play players when they're fit. That's not what he did against Bromley or Birmingham. Bruno Guimareas was left out against Brighton too. Why is this game any different?
Matty Hewitt
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The race for Champions League football is just as important to Newcastle as the Carabao Cup Final and the Magpies need to try and build some momentum heading into the Wembley showpiece next month.
I'd expect Eddie Howe to name as strong a starting XI as he can, after all, it's not like he's blessed with options and depth. The only player I'd maybe tread carefully with is Joelinton.
The Toon have enough options in the heart of midfield for him to miss the clash with the Hammers. But, like I say, resting players ahead of the cup final isn't something Newcastle or Howe should consider.