The paltry prize money Newcastle United get if they win Carabao Cup as new scout search begins

Newcastle United booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Chelsea this week.

But you may be surprised by the paltry amounts of prize money on offer in the EFL competition. As the quest for a trophy approaches its 56th year, it's a good job ending the hunt for silverware is about love not money for the Magpies. Beating the Blues to set up a last eight tie against Brentford was worth just £15,000 to Newcastle in prize money.

And even getting past the Bees will earn just another £25,000 with just £32,000 pocketed so far from the EFL prize pot. Another £25,000 will be up for grabs in the semi-finals while just £100,000 is up for grabs for the eventual winners - a world away from the riches on offer in the Champions League or even the Europa Conference League.

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Of course gate receipts must be factored into the equation as well for Newcastle and two home ties against Wimbledon and Chelsea have earned valuable pounds for the club's PSR cause. Winning the cup would still be massive for Newcastle with the door then opened back into Europe and the prospect of merchandise galore being sold for a potential jaunt to Wembley again.

For Eddie Howe, it's one step at a time for Newcastle in the cup and the Toon boss is eager to focus on that last eight tie without getting carried away. He said: "Yeah I think whenever you go into the draw, the home aspect is really important for us. The environment was second to none [vs Chelsea]. I can't thank the supporters enough for that. That helped us massively.

"Tough game against Brentford but we're looking forward to it."

Newcastle to beef up scouting operation in Scotland

For years under previous owners the club's scouting network north of the border was left neglected as stars like Andrew Robertson and John McGinn ended up plying their trade further south in the UK. Indeed, Hull City snapped up Robertson under the noses of Newcastle for just £2.8million from Dundee United before being a superstar at Liverpool. McGinn was a player who impressed just across the border at St Mirren then up the A1 at Hibernian before eventually joining Aston Villa, and those are just two talented Scotsmen who bypassed St James' Park in more modern times.

Back in the day, Newcastle would regularly raid Scotland for future stars not least the great Bobby Moncur who signed as an apprentice in 1960 from the clutches of a host of the top Scottish top-flight clubs before going on to become one of the greatest players in a black and white shirt. He lifted the last piece of silverware of any importance in 1969. Newcastle signed youngsters such as Steve Caldwell as a youngster in the late 1990s but gave up on serious scouting in Scotland for years.

But Newcastle's new sporting director Paul Mitchell is looking to change that and an advert for a new scout to find promising Scottish talent went up this week at the club. The job advert reads: "Experience of working as a member of staff in the recruitment department of a football club, ideally in an elite football club as a scout, is highly desirable. As such, you will have a good network within clubs, leagues, and associations in Scotland."

Intriguing new Toon book to be released on Monday

A new United book that documents the Entertainers era will be released on Monday in good time for the Christmas rush. Written by author Will Scott, a lifelong Newcastle fanatic, the book includes exclusive interviews with some of the key members from the club's rise from the old Second Division to the brink of the title in 1996.

The likes of Alan Shearer, Sir John Hall, Les Ferdinand, Keith Gillespie and Tino Asprilla are just a few members of a star-studded cast list that took time out to speak to Geordie boy Scott. The Entertainers 1992-1997 Kevin Keegan's Legacy by Will Scott is available in all BACK PAGE Shops in the North East and online at Amazon or www.newcastlelegends.com

Stay logged on to Chronicle Live later this month for some exciting spin offs from what will be one of the best sellers in the upcoming festive period.