Tuesday’s match against Wimbledon will give Eddie Howe a chance to experiment with changes to his Newcastle United side.
Newcastle United were meant to resume their Carabao Cup campaign last week, but the visit to AFC Wimbledon was postponed after severe flooding at Plough Lane.
Both sides agreed to move the cup clash to St James’ Park, with the meeting now scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Newcastle put on their best performance of the season on Saturday in the 1-1 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City, but the energetic display is bound to have taken a toll on fitness levels.
Anthony Gordon was hailed as “relentless” for his performance against City, which included a lung-busting 33 sprints.
In the aftermath of the City game, Eddie Howe will likely make big changes to his lineup when Newcastle face Wimbledon, and that could spell great news for two academy stars on the brink of a breakthrough.
Eddie Howe must unleash Trevan Sanusi and Leo Shahar
Howe will be desperate to avoid an injury crisis like last season, and after a huge performance against City, several stars deserve a rest.
Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier were both assessed after suffering issues against City, and Howe has now revealed whether Tonali is fit to face Wimbledon.
Gordon could also be rested and William Osula could start up front with his only appearance so far coming in a late cameo against Fulham.
If Howe does make changes, there could be a golden opportunity for academy duo Trevan Sanusi and Leo Shahar to burst onto the scene.
Sanusi has been compared to Allan Saint-Maximin after shining in pre-season and the 17-year-old winger has been patiently waiting for his chance in the first time.
Likewise, right-back Leo Shahar has been spotted training with the first team this month after making waves in the Newcastle academy.
If Trippier is struggling with an injury, Shahar could step up at right-back which would allow Tino Livramento to rest before the Premier League clash against Everton on the weekend.
In front of a sold-out home crowd against lower league opposition is the perfect environment for the young, electric duo to shine. It would be great for Howe to show faith in two of Newcastle’s most exciting young prospects.
Newcastle United should target cup success this season
Newcastle have made a great start in the Premier League and they have put themselves firmly in the race for European qualification.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 6 |  FulhamFulham | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| 7 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 8 |  TottenhamTottenham | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
But targeting silverware should be a top priority for Howe this season, it would truly cap off a remarkable rise under new ownership.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe shares Alexander Isak injury update ahead of Everton vs Newcastle United on Saturday
Newcastle came so close to getting their hands on the Carabao Cup in 2023 before losing out to Manchester United at Wembley – going one step further this season would be incredible.
After edging past Nottingham Forest on penalties in the second round, a win against Wimbledon is essential to keep Newcastle’s cup hopes alive.
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