Newcastle boss Howe dismisses comparisons between Isak and Woltemade ahead of EFL Cup defence

Eddie Howe says Newcastle “love” the EFL Cup as they prepare to defend the crown they won last season.

The Magpies ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought by beating Liverpool at Wembley in March and will be hoping to go back-to-back this year.

Having been handed a bye through the second round, they start their campaign at home to League One leaders Bradford City tomorrow night. 

Howe said: “I always enjoy the games and always enjoy preparing the games. The matches is what we are here for. We embrace every competition we are in and the EFL Cup is a competition that we love so we are desperate to do well again.

“The experiences that we have been through in the competition and not just last year, two seasons ago, were memorable to say the least. They are some of my strongest memories of success. The semi-finals, the whole experience of the competition – I think it’s a great one.

“I think because you are going into it early in the season as well, it has a freshness to it but we are up against tough opponents, they are doing very well in their league and they are on a strong winning run. They have beaten two Championship teams to get to this point so full credit to them and Graham Alexander.”

Not fair to compare Isak and Woltemade

With Alexander Isak departing for Liverpool and the injured Yoane Wissa not expected back until after the next international break in mid-October, it has fallen on new signing Nick Woltemade to score the goals.

The German international has performed well but does not appear a direct replacement for Isak, preferring to link the play then being a forward that will run in behind the defence.

Newcastle drew yet another blank at Bournemouth on Sunday and have managed just three league goals so far this term.

Howe admits it will take time for the team to adapt to a slightly different playing style but refused to be drawn on comparisons between Isak and £69million man Woltemade.

He added: ”I don’t think any comparison to Alex is favourable to any player because I wouldn’t do that in other positions. Every player is unique in their own right and Nick is certainly that.

“I thought overall he had a decent game [against Bournemouth] and I think some of his link-play and build-up was really good. He was a focal point in the game that we needed and enabled us to get higher up the pitch and I thought he contributed in a number of ways.

“As a team, we didn’t function particularly well in the attacking-half, there is no denying that. We weren’t creating chances for him and to a degree, as a centre-forward, you are a reliant on that service and we didn’t provide him with enough. The team has to take responsibility for that and we have to take responsibility for that.”

Newcastle will score goals – Howe

Howe is confident the situation will change, however.

“I see no reason why we won’t score goals,” he said. “I think we are probably going through a period where we have had the biggest change to the squad in my time here.

“In an ideal world you have a full six-week pre-season and you iron out any issues you have and you can form your partnerships and team relationships as you start the season.

“We are in the position now where we have to do it as we play but I have no issue with doing that, I have done it before.

“I am excited about the team we can be. We certainly have things to learn about each other and formulas to try and generate that we know will work but I think the biggest thing is; the foundation is solid, the team is playing with strength and I think we are just missing that X-factor.”