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Malcolm Macdonald

Bruno Guimaraes' influence on Newcastle team-mates holds key to Carabao Cup final victory

Right, it is time to be positive. Wembley is upon us and it is not a place for the faint-hearted. We have to forget about the little doubts that were creeping in.

Forget Newcastle will be without Nick Pope for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United. Forget about the early defensive worries against Liverpool and the lack of goals recently.

So here goes. Newcastle possess the best defence in the Premier League and that is a good basis from which to start. We need the back four to boss the game from the start on Sunday afternoon. To be mean and nasty because the longer Manchester United go without scoring the more nervy they will get and the more confident Newcastle will become.

READ MORE: Steve Harmison talks about meeting Newcastle United squad and advice to players ahead of Wembley

The pattern will be set for the game and the Magpies can come on strong in the second-half. When they were winning week in and week out it was often through striking late on.

Of course when the chances come we have to take a decent percentage of them. That is what has been missing. The return of Bruno Guimaraes is a huge lift. It is not just about what he does on the ball but the influence he has on the players around him.

For a start he offers extra protection to United's two central defenders Fabian Schar and Sven Botman. They benefit from having him patrolling the ground just in front of them.

Without a doubt Pope is a huge miss. There is no getting away from it. He has been magnificent this season. However what has happened had happened and United have to get on with it.

Loris Karius is very much in the spotlight and he has taken some stick for what happened in Liverpool's Champions League final when he was at fault on two goals.

However he is an experienced keeper who had done well for Liverpool before that and we have to trust him. So too must the back four. They cannot be jittery because a fourth choice keeper is between the posts.

Eddie Howe will have had Karius and his defenders working together all week to create an understanding. Yes, I feel sorry for Pope and for Joe Willock if he is deemed not fit enough to start at Wembley. Both have played a huge part in what United have achieved so far this season.

It is always awful when players miss out on the big occasion. We had it in the seventies when David Craig missed both the FA Cup and League Cup finals through injury and Stewart Barrowclough was left out in 74.

It is nevertheless an opportunity for someone else to shine and pinch the headlines. Allan Saint-Maximin I guess comes into that category.

I know I have given him some awful stick in the past but it is because he infuriates me. Having so much natural talent I want an awful lot more from him. Well, this would be the perfect time for him to make a statement.

It will be some occasion for United's two Geordies Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff. They were fans before being players.

Sean got United to the final with his two goals against Southampton in the second leg of the semi so it would be wonderful if he could top it off with a winner's medal. I am taking him and his team-mates to do it. I know the heart is ruling but that is okay. I'm going for 1-0 to the Toon.

READ NEXT

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Bruno Guimaraes set to go up against Man Utd's very own 'mosquito' who he knows a lot about

Wembley set to be as close to home as it can be for Newcastle United thanks to Wor Flags

David Edgar on achieving his lifelong Newcastle 'dream' with Manchester United equaliser

Karius' behind the scenes reaction to Liverpool nightmare has paved way for Newcastle 'kiss of life'

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