"We can't switch off" - Howe relishing Premier League return

United booked their place in a first domestic cup final since 1999 following a 2-1 win against Southampton, prevailing 3-1 on aggregate, to set up a highly-anticipated showdown with Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 26th February.

With three Premier League games to play ahead of an historic trip to the capital later this month, Howe is determined for his side to extend their impressive unbeaten streak in the English-top flight to 16 matches ahead of facing David Moyes' Hammers, winless in their last eight league away trips.

Here are some of the main talking points from Friday's pre-match media briefing at the Magpies' Benton training base:

Focussing on Premier League action after reaching the Carabao Cup final, ending the club's 24-year wait for a first domestic cup final:

"It's not so difficult for me. My character is very stable and I was immediately thinking about West Ham and how we act to certain things that happened, Bruno's red card for example.

"It's slightly more difficult for the players as they'll have ran on a lot of emotion on Tuesday and I think, sometimes, it's very difficult to sleep after a game and all those things which are factors into how you feel the next few days. 

"We tried to refocus the players and try to get their minds very much back on the now. West Ham's a very difficult game so if we're off it in any way, it'll be harder."

On Alexander Isak, who was taken off during Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Southampton following a head knock:

"Alex made a vital contribution in that moment. With James Ward-Prowse's free-kick, we'd naturally discussed those situations a lot in the build-up to both games knowing how good he is.

He was able to jump and block the free-kick but took a blow to the side of the head. He had very slight signs of concussion so we followed all the protocols. Whether he'll be available or not, I'm not sure."

On Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby, who both eye club debuts since arriving from Everton and West Ham respectively last month:

"I think both players will be available. They've trained well, doing a couple of individual sessions around the (Southampton) game because they weren't eligible to play. 

"They trained with the group yesterday, although it was a small group, so they haven't actually trained fully with the team but both are fit and fine.

"We think he's (Ashby) a player that has huge potential and is athletically very good. He naturally needs time here to progress and develop. He's got the ideal mentor in Kieran (Trippier) who will help him.

"We wanted to bring in more strength on that side of the pitch, in that position, and with Javier Manquillo injured, it made perfect sense."

On Bruno Guimarães, who will serve a three-game suspension following the Brazilian's red card against Southampton on Tuesday night:

"We're going to miss him massively. I think he's a huge player who has done ever so well for us. Whenever you lose one player, you have to re-adjust and it'll be an opportunity now for the team to regroup and find another way.

"The timing of it is really difficult. We had a really intense period of games and now we don't. Bruno seems to miss a long period of time away but the good thing for him is he'll be available for the final. We have three huge Premier League games ahead of us."

Harnessing the balance between the jubilance of reaching the Carabao Cup final whilst keeping the players on track ahead of a key run of Premier League fixtures:

"I think I'm blessed with the fact that the group itself is very committed to what we're doing and I think they know that we can't switch off and think of the final with three huge games in between. 

"The beauty of quite an experienced group is that they've seen it before, maybe in different ways and not necessarily in this type of cup final but they've been through similar experiences.

"They know the quality of the Premier League and if we drop our levels, we'll get punished so I think there's that immediate thought that we want to continue our good league form. We want the crowd to embrace positivity of what happened and keep that excitement for the cup final but, hopefully, expressing it in our league games as well."

On West Ham United, who claimed a seventh-placed finish during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign but currently occupy 16th place, sitting one point above the relegation zone:

"I think it's the strength of the Premier League and it can happen to anyone at any time. It's such a difficult division that you can go a couple of games, make a difficult start, and then once you're in that position, it's difficult to immediately get out of it. 

"I think they've got a top quality squad, some really good players and they recruited well in the summer. David (Moyes) is an incredible manager, with his experience and the teams he has managed. He's the perfect man for West Ham in this moment."