Strength of Newcastle squad is key to continued success on three fronts, says Howe

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United have the strength to compete on three fronts this season, according to Eddie Howe. However, the head coach conceded that injuries could play a big part in determining United’s success in the Carabao Cup, the Premier League and the FA Cup.

The Magpies’ FA Cup campaign begins on Saturday with a third-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday. The trip to Hillsborough comes just three days before the Magpies face their biggest game of the season so far, when Leicester City will visit at St James’ Park with a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals at stake.

All this just days after a grueling, bruising rearguard action at Premier League leaders Arsenal, in which United claimed a creditable 0-0 draw.

Injuries to two key squad players, Matt Targett and Jonjo Shelvey, have led many to question whether United will be able to sustain a push in all three competitions. Howe believes that with a fully fit squad, this Newcastle setup is capable of achieving anything but, at the same time, he is realistic about the effect injuries might have.

“Without any injuries, yes; with injuries, probably not,” he said when asked whether his side can continue to progress on all fronts this season. “We have two injuries at the moment, to Jonjo and Matt Targett, which is a huge blow for us, to take two quality players out of a squad that is not hugely deep in terms of numbers.

“That is why the transfer talk is interesting, from our perspective, because it will be injury-related. With a full group I think we are strong enough and have quality in every position but you lose a few players and suddenly that changes. I’d certainly take the fixtures, in (terms of the) congested games that would bring.

“It’s going to be down to me