Who is going to use it as a spur, Newcastle or Tottenham? Who wants it more because of the ultimate prize? Certainly Eddie Howe and United realise the value of the Carabao Cup. The are the current holders and made another Wembley final a couple of seasons back.

We'll see how much it is valued when the team sheets come out just over an hour before kick-off. It ought to be a priority with a quarter-final spot open for grabs.

I suspect Howe will go strong but will Thomas Frank? He ought to given Spurs could do with a domestic trophy, especially in his first season, but curiously he often didn't appear to prioritise it when manager of Brentford.

Never in relegation trouble or realistically in with a chance of qualifying for Europe, he still didn't see the League Cup as an opportunity for glory judging by his team selection.

Certainly when Frank came to St James Park for a quarter-final tie in December of last season he picked a 'weakened' side and...