Eddie Howe CANCELS Christmas at Newcastle as fixtures and injuries pile up for the Magpies... but insists his team want MORE games by going all the way in the Carabao Cup

Eddie Howe was doing his best Grinch impression on Monday as he cancelled Christmas at Newcastle.

The Magpies play in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Chelsea on Tuesday night as the fixtures - and the injuries - come thick and fast at the club.

Fabian Schar (glute) and Joelinton (hamstring) are the latest additions to a list of absentees that numbers 11.

And when asked if his players would be enjoying a Christmas bash, Howe said: 'I certainly hope not! If they are, it is unbeknown to me. We have too many games and too busy a schedule for a party like that, I hope!'

Alexander Isak (groin) is doubtful for the trip to Stamford Bridge, while Harvey Barnes (foot) and Joe Willock (Achilles) have both suffered setbacks in recent weeks.

Howe, though, refuses to use the injuries as reason to relegate the Carabao Cup in its importance, especially not after making the final last season.

'Absolutely not,' he said, when asked if defeat could be a blessing. 'We want the games, we want the competition. We want the excitement of challenging for trophies. That's where we have to be, not just now but in the future.

'The dream didn't turn to reality (last season), but maybe this year. It's our best chance of winning a trophy at the moment, because we're advanced in the competition and getting down to the serious end of it. That is why this game takes on big importance for us.

'You go back to the last round, at Manchester United, the players stood up and gave an outstanding performance. This will be very similar, and we will need to give more.'

Newcastle have beaten both Manchester clubs to reach the last eight, on the back of a Champions League group including PSG, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. They will also travel to North-East rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup third round.

'We've been thrust into the most difficult cup draws,' said Howe. 'But that has really stretched us and taken us out of our comfort zone. It's made us improve, although sometimes you need a bit longer to show that improvement, but no part of me regrets that or thinks, "Oh, it's a negative". It's a positive. It is forcing us to improve continually and to be the team we want to be long term. We have to be exposed to those games to get closer.'

Meanwhile, Martin Dubravka has revealed that Manchester United brought his Carabao Cup winners' medal with them to St James' Park last season, in what he admits was one of the 'strangest' episodes of his career.

The goalkeeper spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Old Trafford before returning to Newcastle in January. The two clubs then met in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in February and cup-tied Dubravka watched Man United win 2-0, entitling him to a medal given he had played in two of the earlier rounds.

The Slovakian said: 'The final last season was the strangest game for me, as you can imagine! I played two matches for Manchester United, so everyone was asking me who I was going to support.

'I always support Newcastle because of the length of time I've spent here. It was five and a half years, as opposed to five months, so you can't compare. I wanted Newcastle to win for the city and for the club, because the fans are just waiting for something special.'

Newcastle beat Man United at St James' in the Premier League in April, and Dubravka said: 'They brought the medal up. I didn't really expect it, because I didn't know if they would give it to me.

'It was a little strange, but if you think about it, it's part of the game. I have it at home, but not on display. Don't get me wrong, it's still a medal, so I still appreciate it. It's special circumstances and it was weird, obviously, because I wanted Newcastle to win.'

Would it mean more to win this competition with Newcastle?

'Yes, it would be absolutely fantastic,' said the keeper, who is deputising for the injured Nick Pope. 'Look at the stadium and look at the fans, it's a special place to play, so it would be amazing to win something.'