Eddie Howe's rallying cry ahead of cup quarter-final clash with Brentford

For all the talk around our up-and-down Premier League form, PSR, player sales and the potential arrival of a new right-winger next month, Eddie Howe has one thing on his mind: winning a trophy for Newcastle United.

Howe's comments in his latest pre-match press conference were telling, not only showing his burning desire to bring silverware back to St James' Park but highlighting how desperate the players are to end our trophy drought for the club, city and fans.

Standing in our way of a place in the semi-finals are Brentford - a tricky test but a team with a notoriously poor away record - and Howe has talked up the "huge importance" of tonight's game.

Howe 'desperate' for a trophy

Speaking to the media ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off, he said: "I desperately want to win a trophy for this Football Club, for the supporters here, for their patience, for the support since I’ve been at the Club. Nothing would please me more."

"As a player I was desperate to win a league, a cup, whatever it was, the desire for silverware as a player was so strong. Of course people will tell me I never got close to doing that at all in my career and that was a burning frustration."

“That is what we’re here for [to win trophies], that’s what I made it very clear when I came to Newcastle," Howe added when asked if a trophy was his top priority.

"I know I speak on behalf of the players and coaching staff in that respect, so when you get to this part of the competition we recognise that’s our goal and what we’re trying to do. It’s not easy to do, as everyone knows, but these games take huge importance.

“We want to be the team that gets over the line and achieves something special. We encourage the players to stand up and talk individually to the group, and it’s become very apparent there’s the same will within all of them to win a trophy here.”

The last line is a throwback to Howe's words before our run to the final two seasons ago, where Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff reportedly spoke openly and passionately to Toon teammates about what it would mean to win a trophy for the fans.

Wor Flags' message

In a post on X earlier this week, supporter group Wor Flags urged fans to bring the noise and their black and white scarves to tonight's game.

'Massive, massive game Wednesday night. Huge opportunity to get to the semi-finals and we need an atmosphere to suit. We’re encouraging you to #BringYourScarf. We’ll be in over the next two days stocking up the flags for a display.'

Hopefully the players are at it again, full of confidence from Saturday's 4-0 win and ready to deliver a big performance to see us through to the semi-finals of the cup at St. James' Park.

HOWAY THE LADS.