Newcastle have not reached a semi final in over a decade but have the ideal opportunity to bring an end to that damning start on Tuesday.
Ayoze Perez has told The Chronicle that Newcastle United have a fantastic opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup when they take on a struggling Hull City on Tuesday.
The Magpies have endured a dismal record in cup competitions during the reign of Mike Ashley, with many fans believing that the divisive owner willingly sacrifices a rare chance of glory in order to maintain a safe position in the league table – a gameplan that looks increasingly questionable with Newcastle currently in the second tier.
Consequently, the North East giants have not reached the final four of a domestic competition since 2005, when Manchester United cruised to a 4-1 win at the Millennium stadium to set up an FA Cup final date with Arsenal.
However, with Newcastle still six points clear of third placed Reading in the Championship table despite losing at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, the prospect of a few more fixtures in the EFL Cup is unlikely to damage Rafael Benitez’s side’s chances of promotion.
And Perez insists that Newcastle are perfectly poised to end their cup hoodoo against a Hull side currently entrenched in the Premier League relegation zone.
“It’s a great chance for us. We have to look after ourselves in the cups too,” Perez told The Chronicle. “We want to get as far as we can and we’ll be trying to win.”
Such an attitude will be a refreshing change for Newcastle fans frustrated by the club’s lack of ambition in cup competitions in recent years.
And it won’t take a masterclass for The Magpies to better their most recent quarter-final clash – an abject 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup two years ago.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
