(Image: George Wood - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)

Eddie Howe has refused to deem Newcastle United's remaining fixture list as a daunting task - insisting his stars should be rubbing their hands at the challenge that lies ahead of them.

The mood is low on Tyneside in a week which saw Newcastle crash out of the Carabao Cup to Man City in the semi-finals before losing to Brentford. There were boos for the team at the end of the 3-2 defeat but there is no time for Howe's players to feel sorry for themselves as they face Spurs on Tuesday in the Premier League then Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

As Newcastle get to grips with another three-game week, Howe said: "I think they'd be enjoying the schedule if we were winning, because then you're going from game to game in a really good feeling, in a good moment and the group's spirits are really high.

"At the moment, it's difficult because we're not where we want to be and then the emotions are low. Then you're going into another game, and the key thing is to try to somehow...