EFL confirm Newcastle United official decision ahead of Carabao Cup quarter-final tie

Sam Barrott will referee the clash at St James’ Park as the Magpies look to advance into the semi-finals of the competition for the second time in just three seasons. It will be the first time Barrott has officiated a fixture involving United this season, and only the second time ever.

His previous visit to Tyneside ended in a 3-0 victory over Fulham last December, though was criticised by Marco Silva for sending off Raul Jimenez for a recklessly high tackle on Sean Longstaff.

"He [Jimenez] lost the momentum to go in but it's not something serious,” said Silva. “He jumped into the player but you don’t see something serious, something wrong with the other player. A yellow is right. VAR is trying to find all these moments to give. To justify their job? I don’t know.

“It’s clear he [Jimenez] lost the momentum. He should have done it in a different way. To go for a red card feels really strange. It was a strange afternoon for the referee. I went to speak with him [afterwards] but he almost ran to the dressing room. It’s what we’re facing right now.”

The 2023-24 season was Barrott's first experience as a Premier League referee having worked his way up through the EFL. So far this term, he has taken charge of 10 games in the top-flight after being promoted to Select Group 1.

Barrott will be assisted by Timothy Wood and Wade Smith with James Bell as fourth official. There is no VAR in operation.