SheffieldWednesday

Eddie Howe says ‘fatigue’ played part in Newcastle’s changes for FA Cup defeat

07-Jan-2023 22:06:25 | The Guardian

• Manager made eight changes for match at Sheffield Wednesday
• Howe: ‘We don’t have the deepest squad in the Premier League’

Eddie Howe has defended his decision to make wholesale changes to his side for Newcastle United’s shock FA Cup third round defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday night, explaining that “fatigue” played its part.

With half an eye on Tuesday’s home Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City, Howe made eight changes to the team which had earned a draw at Arsenal last Tuesday. But the decision backfired when Josh Windass’s second-half double ended Newcastle’s 15-game unbeaten run and sent them out of the competition to League One opponents for the second consecutive season.