The Italian music booming out of the home dressing room told its own story. This was Sandro Tonali's night. Having watched on, helpless, as Newcastle United bowed out of this stage of the competition during his suspension last season, the midfielder helped fire his side into the Carabao Cup semi-finals following a 3-1 win against Brentford.

Tonali had not found the back of the net for Newcastle since his barnstorming debut back in August, 2023, but this supposed number six picked the perfect night to rediscover his shooting boots at St James' Park. Not only did Tonali open the scoring with a daisy cutter in the ninth minute - the midfielder doubled his side's advantage with a flying volley.

Fabian Schar added the gloss in the second half before Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford late on. By the time the full-time whistle went, Brentford boss Thomas Frank was sportingly telling opposite number Eddie Howe that he hoped Newcastle win the cup, because 'we need a bit of change', having already noted how it would 'mean more' to Geordies than to the sides left in the draw given the club's eternal wait for silverware.

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There are some big names left in the hat, including Liverpool and Arsenal, but Newcastle will believe - even if Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes are suspended for the first-leg. As Tonali told NUFC TV: "Everything is possible with this team, with these players and with this gaffer."

Tonali certainly won't be lacking motivation to reach a showpiece after 10 months out during his ban and Newcastle will need the Italy international in this sort of form - regardless of who they face.

What Tonali does in possession naturally catches the eye, but these past few days have also served as a reminder of what the midfielder does without it, whether it is his ability to smell the danger and cut out potential counter-attacks or how he covers the ground. Dan Burn referenced this after the game. "It's great for me when you've got someone in there who can take on the information that you're trying to give him," the Newcastle centre-back said. "From a defensive side, he's helped a lot."

It was rather telling that Howe spoke about Tonali finding a 'home in our team' following Wednesday night's win. Those words felt significant.

It was just last week that a report in Italy claimed Tonali was 'tired of this situation' and merely 'passing through' at Newcastle, but this was a night where the 24-year-old looked right at home on Tyneside as Geordies repeatedly serenaded their midfield maestro.

"I don't think that's ever come from Sandro," Howe told reporters. "Always, in my conversations, he's been very happy and very content and, of course, wants to be part of a successful team.

"Nights like tonight just showcase his talents and what a player he will be for us and he is right now, but I've only ever seen a player that's very happy here."

It did not take Tonali long to showcase those talents. Just nine minutes had been played when Tino Livramento embarked on a driving run down the right before pulling the ball across the box.

Although Nathan Collins was in the right place to cut out the danger, the Brentford defender could only hook the ball to Tonali, who was lurking just outside the area. The Italy international had not scored for Newcastle for 494 days, but you would not have known it. Not by the manner in which he caught the ball first-time, leaving Mark Flekken with no chance.

There was no danger of Newcastle sitting back at 1-0. Quite the opposite. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon both fired over before the Magpies doubled their lead in the 43rd minute.

Newcastle have scored a number of goals from set-plays of late and another clever routine from the training ground paid off. Joelinton blocked Yoane Wissa, dragging the Brentford forward away, which enabled Tonali to ghost into the box unmarked and meet Gordon's floated delivery on the volley to make it 2-0.

There was still time for Murphy to rattle the post and dominant Newcastle picked up from where they left off after the break as they went in search of more goals. Gordon and Murphy again fired wide before the hosts grabbed a third in the 69th minute.

A Gordon corner caused problems for Brentford once again, as the ball bobbed around the box, and Flekken could only parry Lewis Hall's effort as far as Bruno Guimaraes. Rather than having a shot, Bruno unselfishly squared it to Schar, who could not miss with the goal gaping.

That third goal gave Howe the luxury of substituting Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak with less than a quarter of an hour to go. Among those who came on was Harvey Barnes, who hit the post with a rasping drive from 25 yards, but Brentford rallied late on. Ben Mee headed wide from close range and Martin Dubravka denied Yoane Wissa one-on-one before the visitors pulled one back in the 90th minute after substitute Bryan Mbeumo laid it on a plate for Wissa.

However, that consolation was never going to silence the crowd on a night Geordies gave notice that they would not be home for tea. They are one step closer to returning to Wembley.