Newcastle have two Championship games before their EFL Cup quarter-final with Hull City at the end of the month.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is determined to take one game at a time, and won’t look too far ahead to the EFL Cup quarter-final game against Hull City that is on the horizon, the Chronicle reports.
The Magpies have got two big Championship games before they travel to the KCOM Stadium as they travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds United and face a home game against Blackburn Rovers before their date in the cup.
Benitez is quoted in the Chronicle saying: “We have plenty of time to think about the cup. I am happy about how we are doing at the moment and I have a lot of respect for Hull.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez
“We have confidence we can win, and I am sure they do too. But we have time to prepare for this game.
“The approach for me is one game at a time but if you play on a Saturday it is always difficult to be fully fit and ready for a Tuesday.”
The fact that Benitez is commenting on it now – with two Championship games to come in between – suggests the excitement there is on Tyneside and the magnitude of the fixture for the club with the prize of a cup semi-final on offer. It’s almost unheard of for the Spaniard to be drawn on fixtures that are taking place a couple of weeks down the line.
Newcastle United’s Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates
Nevertheless, the task in hand in the meantime is for his side to take on a Leeds United side that is in very good form having won their last three to find themselves in a play-off spot.
Newcastle currently sit three points clear at the top of the Championship – and eight points clear of third-place Huddersfield Town with the Magpies winning each of their last seven league games. Naturally they will be hoping for nine league wins on the bounce going into that cup clash against Hull.
One interesting aspect about Benitez’s quotes is the bit about team selection. He has made several changes throughout the season when the side has midweek games – the earlier rounds of the EFL Cup have been a great example of that this season. The approach to the game against Blackburn could be an indicator as to how the side will line-up against the Premier League’s strugglers.
Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez celebrates after the game
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