The topic of a successful cup run has been so widely talked about around Tyneside that an irritating flock of butterflies are floating around the pit of Newcastle United's stomach and will only be released when the Magpies' first XI massacre Northampton Town with extreme prejudice. Steve McClaren is a brave man if he opts to field a weakened team against Chris Wilder's side as any hint of the club not taking the competition seriously will result in a public outcry led by thousands of Geordies using the word 'ambition' too much. Northampton finished 12th in the fourth tier last season and will be looking to cancel the Magpies' takeover of Trafalgar Square for another year. The clubs last faced each other in 1987 when Newcastle managed a 2-1 win in the FA Cup thanks to goals from Paul Goddard and Andy Thomas. Newcastle United signed Ivan Toney from the Cobblers last month and he looked impressive as he made his debut for the Under-21s against Blackburn earlier in the week. It's unknown whether McClaren will bring the 19-year-old into the side for the game but it would be interesting to see him perform against his old club.
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
