Newcastle United are set to welcome back Callum Wilson, Nick Pope and Fabian Schar for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Leicester City, although will “wait and see” on Allan Saint-Maximin.
The quartet missed the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, a result that saw Howe’s side exit the FA Cup to League One opposition for the second successive season.
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Howe made eight changes to his starting XI, with Wilson, Pope and Schar among those handed the weekend off. Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, was due to start at Hillsborough but did not travel due to illness.
“Callum I expect to be back [versus Leicester],” Howe said. “Fingers crossed, Nick and Fabian will also be back. Allan, I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see.”


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Howe will revert back to his strongest starting line-up against Leicester as United aimed to book a place in their first semi-final in 18 years.
That means the likes of Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock are likely to start having been used as second-half substitutes at the weekend.
“We’ll be going full strength to win the match,” Howe said.
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“The fact it’s earlier in the season you have a better chance of playing your stronger team. Saturday’s game, the timing, was difficult because of Tuesday’s upcoming game.
“It was a very quick turnaround on the back of a congested league period. But the Carabao Cup, in the latter stages, now takes on huge importance.”
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The Magpies haven’t won a major trophy since 1969.