Loris Karius, Nick Pope: Inside Eddie Howe’s Predicament Ahead of Newcastle vs Man United Carabao Cup Final

• Eddie Howe and Newcastle are still ruing Nick Pope's unavailability for Sunday's final against Manchester United
• The Magpies perfect season has stalled in recent weeks, with their first chance at silverware in a long time fading away
• Loris Karius, famous for the blunders in the 2018 Champions League final, is in line to start for Newcastle

Nick Pope's red card against Liverpool over the weekend put a dent into Newcastle United's season. For a club that had done so well this term and surpassed all its expectations, the sending off felt like ten steps backwards.

Were it not for the superb job Mikel Arteta had done in North London, Eddie Howe could have won the coach of the season, hands down. Taking a club from being relegation candidates to title contenders, in the most competitive league in the world, in the space of one season is not easy.

Manchester United transfer news: How many players did the Red Devils bring in this transfer window?

Football

Even better, save for purchases of Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and more recently, Anthony Gordon, Newcastle is yet to flex their financial muscle fully. Howe has had to make do with the players he found at the club. The likes of Joelinton and Miguel Almiron are in the conversation of the title race.

Newcastle's loss of form

Only that in recent weeks, Howe's charges seem to have hit a bump. A run of only two wins in eight games after the World Cup has seen them slip from being title challengers to fifth place after their latest defeat.

With the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United fast approaching, the Magpies will be hoping that Howe can stem the rot in time. But given that Pope, the division's best goalkeeper, will be suspended for the game, it feels like Newcastle will be chasing the game from the word go.

Watch as Sancho, Wan Bissaka excite fans with sublime skills vs Leicester

Football

A little indecisiveness from Pope and Newcastle's decision to loan out Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow has left Howe scratching his head on his limited options for Sunday. Dubravka's loan deal to Manchester United has come back to haunt them as the Slovak is now cup tied. Even ironically, he will receive a loser's medal if Newcastle wins.

The return of Loris Karius

Which leaves Howe with the option of Loris Karius. Remember him? Him of the 2018 Champions League blunders that cost Liverpool a sixth Champions League crown. Karius hasn't played a competitive game for more than two years. Add that to his known errors between the sticks; he will face an in-form Manchester United with the red-hot Marcus Rashford.

No defender wants to face Rashford right now. He will be Erik ten Hag's go-to person as the Red Devils look to end their six seasons dry spell. Dubravka's short cameo against Liverpool showed why Howe would rather have him on Sunday than Karius. But he can't. For a club that has managed their business so well since the Saudi take over, they find themselves in a sticky position.

Man City fighting fires ahead of Champions League test

Football

Apart from the goalkeeper conundrum, Howe's frontline has gone cold. Allan Saint-Maximin has been reintroduced into the fold in recent games, but so far, the Magpies have failed to score more than once in a game in the Premier League this year.

Guimaraes vs Casemiro

The only silver lining on Sunday is that Guimaraes will be available once again after completing his suspension. And so will be Casemiro for United in what will be a thrilling Brazilian spectacle in the middle of the pack.

But Pope's red card has messed up a club that was on a steady rise. His calmness and composure will be missed at the back. Newcastle aren't at their worst at the moment, at least not like Chelsea, but the mood towards the Sunday final has changed and swung to the red corner.

It doesn't feel like an even contest anymore. But football has a way of surprising you. Can Wembley provide a romantic end for Eddie Howe and the Magpies on Sunday? Can Karius redeem himself and his career?

Fan left devastated after his dog destroys his Carabao Cup final ticket

Football

Time will tell.

Rashford's form

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Marcus Rashford's incredible goalscoring record this season has been put into perspective with a Chelsea comparison.

The Manchester United attacker has been in a sublime form post the 2022 World Cup, with the Englishman boasting 24 goals across competitions thus far this term.

The Man United academy graduate was in top shape on Sunday, February 19, as he netted a brace to inspire his side to a 3-0 win over Leicester City.