A long trip but Newcastle ‘excited’published at 11:34 GMT
Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter
It’s a long way from Newcastle to Baku.
No wonder, then, Eddie Howe hinted this morning that a
two-legged tie against Monaco was his personal preference because of how long
it would take to travel to Azerbaijan.
But the Newcastle United head coach made it clear he was “excited
for whoever we get”- and there is
certainly no danger of his side underestimating Qarabag.
The competition newcomers may have been hammered 6-0 by
Liverpool earlier this week, but that does not tell the full story.
Qarabag won three of their eight league phase fixtures –
beating Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen – and even held a much-changed
Chelsea side to a draw in Baku.
So Howe will again have to strike a delicate balance with his
changes as he did in Paris midweek.
But Newcastle should have more than enough to get through if
they play with that same spirit.
