Newcastle United put their impeccable Carabao Cup record at St James' Park to the test against Brentford as the overwhelming favorites to knock Thomas Frank's side out at the quarter-final stage.

Howe has never tasted a defeat on Tyneside in this competition as Newcastle boss and you'd have to trawl back to 2017 for United's last disappointment at St James' Park when Nottingham Forest won 3-2 after extra time during the Rafa Benitez era. Since then Howe has guided his team to seven victories on home soil in the Carabao Cup.

However, his overall record is blemished by the 2023 defeat at Wembley when Newcastle served up a nervous display that ended 2-0 for Manchester United. When asked if the run to the final two seasons ago would be "useful" this time around, with a last eight victory over Leicester City still fondly remembered thanks to goals from Blyth lad Dan Burn and Joelinton, Howe preferred to go stage by stage.

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Howe told Chronicle Live: "The final experience of 2023 can be useful if we get back to a final again. That will be really useful for us because there is a lot of experience gained from that. There were a lot of lessons learned from that one match itself. But I don't think it is useful in this moment approaching this match.

"The previous experiences of the quarter-final and semi-finals yes I think they were really good things to go through. But I just think this is a match in isolation and this is us against Brentford and we know their qualities.

"We know they are a very good team and that they have had a very good season so far. We need to nullify their strengths but also attack in the same we did in the last match."

Carrying forward any good feeling from the 4-0 win over Leicester City will be key against Brentford. The rout against the Foxes has changed the mood on Tyneside and from a position of being questioned, Howe has been afforded some much needed breathing space.

The head coach admitted that he has taken his work home with him in the last month or so after a tough search for a victory was littered with a lack of focus and some horrendous defending.

Howe quipped: "It is good to see some smiles in here! I think it is different for us, and we always try to stay level. I feel the results more than anybody. Yes, I do take them home with me, and I do live the results.

"I think you have to a degree. But then, once you digest the result, you look forward with positivity. It is the only way to act. Because you know you have another chance to change the narrative.

"For us, now we need to make sure we don't step back. We have to step forward again with real positive energy and attack this game."

Howe overcame a goalkeeping blow to Nick Pope in the build-up to the huge win over Leicester but the head coach was delighted with the performance of Martin Dubravka. Despite being linked with a January move to the Saudi Pro League, Howe was more than satisfied with the Slovakian star's return.

He said: "I think Martin played really well. He did not have a lot to do with his hands which was a good thing for us as a defensive unit but I think he was very calm in possession and gave us a really good platform to build from at the back, a vastly experienced and vastly level headed I think he can be very pleased with his return to the team."