Newcastle United

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Qarabag in Baku (kick-off 17:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The Newcastle boss confirmed Joelinton is back in the squad: "That's a great boost for us. He's such an important player, such a big presence within our squad, such a real leader. He trained yesterday, trained well and felt really good."

• Howe added: "We will play our strongest team in the sense that we will try to win the game. There'll be no thinking of the schedule ahead - this game, in isolation, is hugely important."

• He said Lewis Miley will miss out but he has "made good progress in the past few days". However, Emil Krafth's season "looks like it's over", with the defender having had an operation on his knee.

• Bruno Guimaraes will spend some time with the Brazil national team to help recover from his hamstring injury before returning to the North East. Howe said "it's a good mix" for him.

• On playing in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Howe said: "It means everything to us. The opportunity for us to get to the last 16 of this competition would be an incredible achievement. We're trying to embrace it in that way and look at the excitement and the possibility rather than feel the burden of the pressure of the occasion."

• He continued: "We want to turn these moments into history and into moments people talk about for a long time. There's a real excitement with this game."

• Howe said he has watched back the games Qarabag played against Chelsea and Liverpool and knows "this will be a tough test". He added: "You can look at the scoreline [6-0 defeat by Liverpool] and make one assumption and then look at the game and get another, different, impression. The Chelsea game [2-2 draw], I thought, was a really hard-fought game between two good teams, but it was a really good one for us to watch to see the level of team we're going to be up against. We are certainly getting across to the players in the next two days that there's no complacency."

Listen to commentary of Qarabag v Newcastle at 17:45 on Wednesday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

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When ball number 14 was drawn, fans couldn't believe it - the FA Cup fifth-round draw set up Newcastle and Manchester City to meet in yet another cup tie.

It's the fifth time in six years the teams have faced up in a domestic cup - most recently, City bested Newcastle over two legs to deny the Magpies a place in the final of the Carabao Cup.

In March, the teams will meet again at St James' Park for a place in the quarter-finals of the oldest cup competition in the world.

So, what do fans make of the draw? Yawn-worthy, or the chance for a dramatic rematch?

Let's hear what our fan writers think...

Charlotte Robson of the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

We joked in all our group chats that, after comprehensively beating Aston Villa we'd end up with Manchester City away in the FA Cup. It was just supposed to be a joke, not a premonition! I rang my dad's house just after the draw was announced and heard wailing in the background. Here we go again!

OK, we drew them at home, so there's a small concession made. But honestly. How many times can two teams play each other in one season? At this rate, I am pretty sure the footballing powers that be will have invented a new way for us to play them at least a couple more times before the season is out.

I know that to win silverware you have to beat the best. I know that. Those of us in the chat with fistfuls of straws can point to November, when a Harvey Barnes double saw us beat City at St James' Park. Those more pessimistic might point to the other two times we've played them so far this season, and the ease with which they dealt with us.

This weekend we visit the Etihad, for what seems to be our now bi-monthly Manchester City match. Let's spin this. Saturday represents another opportunity for Eddie Howe to assess how they are so effective, and to start making a plan.

I keep coming back to the fact it's a home tie. St James' Park will be LOUD. The players will be up for it.

It's the FA Cup - anything could happen.

Emily Brobyn is a regular on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here

"I'm sick of the sight of them," was my reaction when Joe Cole and Karen Carney paired Manchester City with Newcastle.

Don't get me wrong, St James' Park is one of my favourite away days. Despite the infamous 14 flights of stairs, Newcastle is a city that is completely and utterly obsessed with football.

It's all most of their residents talk about as they're walking around the city. It's always a cracking away trip. The draw will be the talk of the toon – but I'm not so sure they'll be too happy about it either.

But despite having just been beaten by Pep Guardiola's men in the Carabao Cup semi-final, in both legs and by an aggregate score of 5-1, Newcastle will be buoyed by the fact this tie will have home advantage.

Eddie Howe has never won a game with Newcastle at Etihad Stadium. The stats make for dismal reading. But the Magpies beat City in the league back in November - 2-1 on home turf - and St James' will be rocking, with Howe looking to seek revenge for the battering his side so recently took in the League Cup.

Make no mistake, it could have been a tougher draw for City, but I doubt Pep will be relishing the prospect of travelling up to Tyneside for the third time in five months.

The Blues have the quality to come away with a place in the FA Cup quarter finals, but there's a feeling Newcastle won't be ready to accept being knocked out of two domestic cups in consecutive months at the hands of City.

Which probably makes the game even more of a tantalising prospect – for the neutral at least!

Emily Brobyn is a regular on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says the Magpies' FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City will be a chance to get some revenge after their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat.

Newcastle go to the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday (20:00 GMT) having already faced City three times so far this season. It is also the fifth time in six years they have drawn Pep Guardiola's side in domestic cup competition.

Ando said: "It'll be the fifth meeting. We asked for a home tie and that's what we got, but we were hoping for a lesser side.

"But look, if you're going to win it, you've got to beat them - that's the way it is. Thankfully it's at home - that's the only plus point about it.

"We've already played Manchester City in the semi-finals of the League Cup. They did us on both occasions, home and away, so it's a chance to get a little bit of sweet revenge."

Listen to the full chat with Ando above or on BBC Sounds here

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

What to talk about after this weekend... The magic of the cup? The horror of the officiating? The possible corner turned for Newcastle United? Sandro Tonali? Nick Woltemade?

I want to write about all of the above and then some, because winning games makes me feel floaty and poetic, and winning games in the FA Cup even more so.

I don't actually think I can add much to the discourse about the officiating on Saturday.

It has opened up a(nother) debate on VAR that I don't care to wade into.

I might, had we lost. But we won! Away from home!

We won despite Aston Villa being a difficult opposition that have already had four points from in our league fixtures this season.

We won despite Bruno Guimaraes being out for eight weeks.

We won because of two delicious strikes from Sandro Tonali, and one neat little chip from Woltemade.

A sweet Valentine's Day gift for our fans.

Tonali's second goal in particular was a thing of beauty.

He found himself outside the box, as he was with the first. Where the first goal took a slight deflection (but was still obviously brilliant, and a nice slice of justice after being denied a clear penalty), the second goal is exactly what you dream of in a cup competition.

The power and precision behind the strike to send it through four outfield players and Emi Martinez cannot be underestimated.

This was Tonali close to his best - again.

Midweek, after we beat Spurs (subsequently making Thomas Frank available to industry), the players pushed Eddie Howe out in front of the away fans for his applause.

At Villa Park, Tonali got his applause first, then Woltemade.

We seem more unified than even one week ago. The team feels cohesive. Fans are with them.

Now it's just a case of a casual 6,500 mile round trip to Azerbaijan, then on to Manchester City away.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Newcastle, along with Leeds and Aston Villa, are interested in James Trafford of Manchester City, who would prefer to send the 23-year-old goalkeeper out on loan rather than sell this summer. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties in the order they were drawn.

• Fulham v Southampton

• Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland

• Newcastle United v Manchester City

• Leeds United v Norwich City

• Mansfield Town v Arsenal

• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

• Wrexham v Chelsea

• West Ham v Macclesfield or Brentford

The matches will be played over the weekend of 7 March.

Watch all the highlights and best video from this season's FA Cup

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Matthew: Given the injury crisis Villa are facing and the number of changes Emery made, there are a lot of positives in the way we played for much of the match. But the number of gilt-edged opportunities we're gifting the opposition is a real concern - especially when our game plan relies on defensive solidity and exceeding our very low xG values.

Paul: We shot ourselves in the foot twice. Firstly, with the sending off and secondly, with the lazy play for the third Newcastle goal. We're really starting to feel the absence of McGinn, Tielemans and Kamara. With them on the pitch, it becomes comfortable. Worried our season will start to fizzle out now if we're not careful.

Keith: Memo to Mr Emery: Please tell your defenders to stop trying to play keep-ball in their third of the pitch. It inevitably leads to disaster, as shown by the third goal from Newcastle. Too many goals have been conceded this way. Are we to miss out on a Champions League place on goal difference again?

Gavin: A moment of madness changed the game. But only slightly disappointed, as we've got bigger fish to fry - top five and the Europa please, Unai.

Newcastle fans

Geoff: Excellent discipline from Newcastle. Away from home and playing a top team they ran Villa ragged. They looked sharp. They were full of running. This display and midweek against Spurs has put the away hoodoo to bed. Trippier didn't look so sharp but the others were really active and gave us a fine win.

George: Much better in last two away games. Woltemade needs to keep up front and not come deep into midfield. Gets in the box and hey presto... goal. Osula up front needs balls played over defence to run on to, not to feet. Defence much better with Big Dan Burn in it. Tonali must be kept out of the clutches of other clubs. With no Bruno, he is crucial to our defence and attack.

Liam: To come away with the win - despite still playing against 13 men in the second half - is a massive result. It's probably worth us focusing on the cup now, with our league form so patchy. Watch us get City, Arsenal or Liverpool, away, in the next round...

Ken: To keep calm after linesman and referee clangers they must be applauded for a master class of very good football and a much deserved win.

Image source, Getty Images

The 2025-26 FA Cup fifth-round draw will take place on Monday, 16 February at about 18:35 GMT.

It will be done before the fourth-round tie between Macclesfield Town - the lowest-ranked team left in the competition - and Brentford, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw on TNT Sports.

Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 7 March.

Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.

What are the ball numbers?

1. Liverpool

2. Fulham

3. Sunderland

4. Southampton

5. Wrexham

6. Arsenal

7. Chelsea

8. West Ham United

9. Mansfield Town

10. Norwich City

11. Port Vale or Bristol City

12. Wolverhampton Wanderers

13. Newcastle United

14. Manchester City

15. Macclesfield or Brentford

16. Leeds United

Midfielder Sandro Tonali, 25, has reaffirmed his commitment to Newcastle United following speculation linking him with Arsenal. The Italian said he raced over to manager Eddie Howe after scoring in the FA Cup against Aston Villa on Saturday because he wanted to show their relationship remains strong. (ChronicleLive), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

After his side's FA Cup win on Saturday, Eddie Howe said of Bruno Guimaraes' injury: "I think he will be [pushing to get back sooner]. But the timeframe will be the timeframe on this one.

"I don't think there's any miracle cure for him. I think it will be a couple of months. You are probably looking at the end of the international break in March for him.

"That is a blow for us. It is a key stage in the season, he is devastated, but it is what it is.

"We can't do anything about it. We just have to get him back safely and other players have to step up in his absence.

"We did that [against Villa] - [Nick] Woltemade, [Jacob] Ramsey and [Sandro] Tonali were excellent."

Read more here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Tammy Abraham's opener

A marginal VAR offside decision caused a fair amount of controversy for Newcastle in midweek. Joe Willock had a goal disallowed at Tottenham when the semi-automated technology said his forehead was offside.

Abraham's goal was the kind of decision the video review was brought in for - the real howlers.

The Villa striker was clearly ahead of the defence when Douglas Luiz played the free-kick. With VAR, the goal would have been ruled out.

It would be easy to blame switching between systems as a defence for the assistant, Nick Greenhalgh. But with or without VAR, he would be expected to raise his flag if he's identified an offside.

Should Digne have been sent off?

Would the VAR have stepped in to show a red card to Digne for serious foul play with his late challenge on Jacob Murphy? It is far from certain from what we have seen in the Premier League.

We often hear the VAR has referenced glancing contact to uphold the decison of a yellow card. See Diogo Dalot's challenge on Jeremy Doku in the Manchester derby last month.

Digne did come in at some speed and that would have increased the chance of being sent off on review.

Yet the Frenchman did not push through on to the shin of the Newcastle player. That his foot came off quickly probably would have saved him.

It may well have been one of those where the on-field decision would have stood, whether it was yellow or red card.

Bizot's red card

Serious foul play or denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (Dogso)?

Really, this incident could have been either. After all, Bizot brought down Murphy with a knee-high challenge - although it was not with studs leading.

When the Dutch goalkeeper fouled the Newcastle forward, the Magpies were left with three attackers up against only Luiz, although Dogso could only be applied to the player fouled.

The VAR would have taken into account the general run of the ball was not towards goal. They would also consider if Luiz would have been able to get across to prevent the shot.

You can make a case for a degree of doubt for Dogso. But much like the Digne decision it is one which would likely have stayed with the on-field decision.

Read more analysis on the officiating in Aston Villa v Newcastle here

Pundits Ellen White and Shay Given join host Alex Scott to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Hull City 0-4 Chelsea

• Wrexham 1-0 Ipswich

• Burton Albion 0-1 West Ham

• Manchester City 2-0 Salford City

• Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle

• Liverpool 3-0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle had been here before.

The visitors also had an extra man for a large period after Villa went down to 10 men on the opening day of the Premier League season at Villa Park.

Howe's men could not find a way through that afternoon but, this time, they made that advantage count thanks in no small part to Sandro Tonali.

The Italian's recent performances have come under scrutiny, but this was a return to goalscoring form when Newcastle needed it most in the absence of injured captain and talisman Bruno Guimaraes, who has been ruled out for two months.

They have lost plenty of games with the Brazilian in the middle of the park, but there is a reason why this side have not won any of the 10 league games he has not featured in since making his debut in February, 2022.

Guimaraes has so often dragged his team level or popped up with a winning goal, but this was a night where Tonali took on that mantle in his absence.

By the time German forward Nick Woltemade added a much-needed third goal, buoyant Newcastle supporters were singing about the prospect of returning to Wembley in a few months time.

Having ended their 70-year wait for silverware by winning the Carabao Cup at that very stadium last season, they are daring to dream again.

History will give them hope too.

In five of the previous six seasons - dating back to 1895 - Villa and Newcastle have met in the FA Cup, one of them has reached the final.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe speaking after the game: "There is a lot to take in. The overriding feeling is that we are really pleased to be through. It was great character from the players to come back from a losing position. It is tough to win here at the best of times but being 1-0 down - I think we did well when we conceded that we didn't allow the goal and the decision that allowed it to affect us and destabilise our performance. I thought we were unfortunate to go in 1-0 down."

On the decisions that went against his side today: "It felt like it was one of those games that every decision was going against us. Of course it isn't intentional, but it was just one of those things that you have to accept. Our players did well to control their emotions and not get themselves sent off for something. It did feel strange. The penalty for handball, I could see it from where I was. It did feel like it was one of those days where it wasn't going to happen. It's not easy to play against 10 v 11 to break down a stubborn defensive unit, and I think we did that really well in the second half."

On Sandro Tonali getting back on the scoresheet: "Really pleasing. In Bruno's [Guimaraes] absence we know we needed everyone to give more and I thought Sandro let by example in that respect. [Nick] Woltemade, his contribution in midfield was really good today and Jacob Ramsey against his former club. So I thought there was some really strong performances that we are going to have to carry forward into future games."

On when Bruno Guimaraes will be back fit: "Around the next international break. The March international break that he will be back. He has a period of time now where he will have to work hard on his hamstring to make sure he is fully fit but we are looking at that period of time."

On Yoane Wissa's absence: "Just a little knock for Yoane in training yesterday. I don't think it's serious and don't think he will be away too long."

On how much he would like a FA Cup run: "It would be amazing. We want to go as far as we can. We always take the cups seriously. There is a a massive prize at stake and the competition will really hot up in the latter stages. There are no easy draws for us."

Newcastle United captain Kieran Tripper speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It always is [a rollercoaster] against Aston Villa, always a high tempo game. We've been under scrutiny a bit, but we regrouped after Brentford, we had a good talk with ourselves - just us players. Good win away from home, I'm delighted for Sandro [Tonali] to score, he's been unbelievable for us.

"There's no VAR - the penalty incident, I'm sure it was a penalty. But this is football, you have to react to disappointments, and we did that. Villa posed a threat with 10 men but that third goal was crucial.

"We looked at ourselves as players in the dressing room [after the Brentford defeat], but also for the manager. I've known him over half my life. You see all this stuff on social media which he doesn't deserve. We are fully behind him and a fully playing for him."

Did you know?

• This was just Newcastle United's second victory across their last 12 FA Cup matches against fellow Premier League opposition (drawn one, lost nine), also defeating Fulham 2-0 away in January 2024 at this stage of the competition.

• Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali scored for the first time this season, with this his second brace for the Magpies across all competitions – alongside December 2024 vs Brentford in the League Cup quarter-finals.

You can listen to Eddie Howe and Dan Burn speaking after the match on BBC Sounds

You can listen to reaction from John Anderson and Matthew Raisbeck on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Aston Villa's performance?

What did you learn from Newcastle United's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Bogarde, Lindelof, Torres, Digne, Luiz, Onana, Rogers, Barkley, Bailey, Abraham

Subs: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Watkins, Garcia, Buendia, Sancho, Maatsen, Kone

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes, Osula,

Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy, Shahar, Seung-soo, Neave

Image source, BBC Sport

There are seven ties in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Burton v West Ham (12:15) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Derby

• Burnley v Mansfield - BBC Radio Lancashire & BBC Radio Nottingham

• Man City v Salford - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 & BBC Radio Manchester

• Norwich v West Brom - BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM

• Port Vale P-P Bristol City

• Southampton v Leicester- BBC Radio Solent & BBC Radio Leicester

• Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:45) - BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live), BBC Radio WM & BBC Radio Newcastle

• Liverpool v Brighton (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Merseyside & BBC Radio Sussex

Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Burton v West Ham" of "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Brighton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

How to follow the FA Cup fourth round on the BBC

I was delighted for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe that his team beat Tottenham and also the reception he got from his side's fans afterwards.

For everything he has done for them, the world must have gone bonkers for their fans to be calling up 606 and saying they wanted him out.

This will be a very different test to playing Spurs, however, and I am going with my gut feeling on this one.

The two sides met recently, when Villa won at St James' Park at the end of January and although Villa have slipped up a couple of times at home recently, when it clicks for them, they usually end up winning.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here