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Bruce taking cup competitions seriously

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Steve Bruce has insisted his Newcastle United side will be taking the cup competitions seriously this season.

The Newcastle boss will be looking to build on his first Premier League victory of the season over Spurs on Sunday, as his side welcome Leicester City to St James’ Park for the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday.

Ahead of the game against their Premier League rivals, Bruce told the Chronicle that his team want to build their momentum by winning as many fixtures as possible.

“We want that positive feel, as it’s a cup tie for a start – and we are taking it seriously,” he said.

“I said that the first day I walked through the door about the cups. We are playing very good opposition in Leicester.”

Bruce guided his Hull City side to the FA Cup final in 2014, an achievement which remains one of his best feats during his management career.

OPINION

Bruce will know better than anyone that Newcastle need to be winning silverware given the size of the club, and their best opportunity by miles is to try and progress as far as they can in either of the cup competitions. To knock out a fellow Premier League side in Leicester in their first tie of the cup would be a big statement and one that could motivate them to continue their run. The fewer top-flight sides in the competition as it continues simply means there is more opportunity to come up against a so-called lesser side further down the line. Excluding their Championship title and their UEFA Intertoto Cup success in 2006, the last time the Magpies won a major trophy was in 1955 when they collected the FA Cup after beating Manchester United, and Bruce must set his sights big and dream that his side can end that long run for a major piece of silverware this season. Every game is an opportunity, and they must go into it with the same mentality that delivered them an impressive three points away at Tottenham – something that if they do, they will surely have a chance.

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