‘Talking to people’: CBS reporter shares what he’s been told about Newcastle’s ‘priority’ this season

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Newcastle United are prioritising the League Cup this season, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

Speaking on Steve Wraith’s YouTube show ‘NUFC Matters’, the journalist shared what he’s been told by people involved with the club about the Toon’s priority for the upcoming year.

“To see your side win any trophy is phenomenal,” Jacobs said.

“I think that Newcastle are still not too big for that; just because they’ve had a history of challenging for the Premier League, just because they’re going places as far as [the] Champions League.

“The only caveat is of course, the further you get in the tournament, the more it clashes with Newcastle’s push to try and escalate that strategy of Champions League football earlier than perhaps they anticipated.

“They were probably looking at getting into Europe within three seasons if they could and now this first season away from the threat of relegation, they’re doing so well as we approach the halfway stage, that might influence things like selection.

“But I get a sense, certainly from the PIF’s side of the ownership group, and talking to people connected to the club and Eddie Howe specifically, the League Cup is high priority and why shouldn’t it be.”

Newcastle are prioritising the League Cup

An own goal from Bournemouth’s Adam Smith saw the Magpies into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup’ last night.

Although Howe’s side dominated much of the 90 minutes, Nick Pope had to make saves against efforts from Jack Stacey and Dominic Solanke to preserve his clean sheet and his team’s victory.

This result increases Newcastle’s hope of winning a domestic trophy for the first time since 1955.

Thus, when looking at this statistic, it is easy to see why the Tyneside club are prioritising silverware this season.

Although the Toon have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League, it was never a goal planned for heading into the current campaign.

Instead, a much likelier possibility was to aim for a domestic trophy – like the League Cup.

Entering the latter stages, Newcastle now have a strong chance of making it through to the final.

Therefore, this triumph would bring success back to St James’ Park and kick the side on to pursue further trophies elsewhere.