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Donachie Backing Buddies
Written by Newcastle Utd
Willie Donachie has sent a good luck message to loan stars Conor Newton and Paul Dummett ahead of Sunday's Scottish League Cup final
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Former Tartan Army star Willie Donachie will watch this weekend's Scottish League Cup final with even more interest than usual - and has made no secret of who he will be supporting on the day.
Glaswegian Donachie, who played for his country in the 1978 World Cup and won 35 caps during his time as a renowned left-back for Manchester City, intends to be at Hampden Park when Hearts take on St. Mirren on Sunday.
And Newcastle's Reserve Team Manager is hoping loan pair Paul Dummett and Conor Newton will lift the cup for the Saints and return to Tyneside with winners' medals.
Defender Dummett - who won man of the match in last weekend's 0-0 Scottish Premier League draw with Dundee United - has played in all but two matches of the Buddies' run while midfielder Newton made his second appearance for the club in a famous 3-2 semi-final win over Celtic.
That set up Sunday's final against Hearts, who are currently one place higher in the table but were beaten 2-0 at St. Mirren Park in the league last month, with the Paisley outfit bidding to win the competition for the first time in their history.
"I'm hoping to go and I'd be delighted for them if they won," Donachie told nufc.co.uk. "It seems a good club and they're looking after the lads.
"I'd love them to win that League Cup. It would be fantastic for them."
Newton and Dummett are not the first Newcastle youngsters to play in a major cup final this season, of course.
Curtis Good started for Bradford in last month's Capital One Cup final loss to Swansea at Wembley before returning to St. James' Park at the end of his loan spell and Donachie believes United will reap the benefits of such experiences.
He said: "To play in a cup final, you can't replicate that in training. Playing with men, playing for a living - the manager could get the sack at Bradford if they lose too many games - that's what it's all about, that intensity.
"It's been fantastic for him and he's at the age now where he's got to kick on, really keep working and get to the next level."
Look out for an interview with Paul Dummett and Conor Newton on nufc.co.uk later this week