Earlier this week, the first of the two domestic cup competitions got underway when the first-round of the Carabao Cup or the League Cup as we fondly remember it as took place.
With the first-round completed, the draw for the second round, the round in which those Premier League clubs who are not involved in European competition join in, took place.
As was the case for the first-round, the draw is split into two halves, a Northern section and a Southern section, with, as you’d expect, Newcastle being placed in the Northern section.
It turned out that Newcastle were given not the easiest of ties.
In the week commencing 27th August, Newcastle will make the journey south to the City Ground, to take on the Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Forest are managed by the former Middlesbrough boss, Aitor Karanka, and have invested heavily in the transfer market this summer.
With it being one of the two pieces of silverware Newcastle stand a chance of winning, the other being the FA Cup, you’d hope that Rafael Benitez bucks the trend and fields a strong side in this much-maligned competition.
The tie is saddled between a run of very difficult looking Premier League matches and a win would boost the confidence of the side enormously, so let’s go for it, Rafa.
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