Carabao Cup

LORIS KARIUS became friends with Justin Bieber after the popstar complimented his tattoos.The goalkeeper is set to make his Newcastle debut in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Loris Karius and Justin Bieber met on holiday in MiamiCredit: @lorisk21
The goalkeeper is dating Diletta LeottaCredit: The Mega Agency
The pair enjoy a jet-set lifestyleCredit: The Mega Agency
Karius and Diletta often show off to their millions of Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @dilettaleotta
Karius is set to star in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday in his Newcastle debutCredit: The Mega Agency
Karius has got his chance thanks to Nick Pope’s suspension, while Martin Dubravka is cup tied.
The shot-stopper has the opportunity become a Toon legend and he could be cheered on by Bieber.
The pair met on holiday in Miami in 2015 and exchanged numbers before agreeing to go to a concert together.
Karius shared the story in 2016 saying: “We just met on holiday randomly last year.
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“We were staying at the same place in Miami. He liked my tattoos. He was asking me about them and then we got talking. That’s how it started.”
Karius enjoys the high life and is dating Italian sports presenter Diletta Leotta, who has 8.6million Instagram followers.
The pair jetted off to Milan this week where they were spotted on a casual lunch date.
And in December they dressed to the nines for a Christmas dinner and Karius often shows off alongside his girlfriend to his 1.8m Instagram followers.
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The German has had to find things away from football to keep himself occupied as he has not played a competitive game for two years.
Newcastle fans are fearing the worst but Eddie Howe believes the final gives Karius a brilliant chance to resurect his career.
The Magpies boss said: “It would be a magnificent chance for him to rewrite the story of his career. There’s been loads of stories through the times in football where these things have happened and there’s been a really positive outcome – or not.
“As soon as it happened (Pope’s red card) there was a feeling of whether there was another page in Karius’ career to write. Who knows what that chapter will look like?
“That’s the beauty of football. We never know what is going to happen. This unpredictability is what makes it such an amazing thing to watch.” More

NEWCASTLE fans have been absolutely starved of success in recent years… well, decades, actually.The long-suffering Toon faithful will be hoping to have something to celebrate this Sunday when they face Manchester United in the final of the Carabao Cup.
How Newcastle lined up for their last piece of silverware in the 3-0 win over Lillestrom in the 2006 Intertoto Cup
Eddie Howe is working wonders at St James’ Park and looks likely to be the man to finally end the silverware drought and bring back the glory days to the North East.
In fact, Newcastle haven’t won a trophy since 2006.
And even then, they were only awarded a plaque for “winning” the Intertoto Cup.
Incredibly, 11 TEAMS were crowned champions – with their victory in Europe’s old third tier competition seeing them promoted to the Uefa Cup.
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Newcastle were eventually named outright winners after progressing further than their 10 rivals in what’s now known as the Europa League.
But Glenn Roeder’s squad weren’t given a traditional trophy for their achievement.
Instead, then-captain Scott Parker was given a plaque.
Still, for a team absolutely itching for a title, it’s silverware, so who cares?
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After all, it was Newcastle’s first “trophy” for 37 years, since their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win of 1968-69. Ouch.
The Toon beat Lillestrom 4-1 on aggregate – winning 3-0 in Norway following a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.
Here’s how Roeder set up his team that day…
SHAY GIVEN
The Ireland legend played 462 times for the Toon – including their 3-0 win at Lillestrom.
Given left to join Manchester City in 2009 and also turned out for Stoke, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa before retiring.
Since hanging up his gloves, the 134-cap former international has turned to coaching – working under Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney at Derby following a spell as No2 at Villa under Paul Lambert while still a player.
Shay Given was Newcastle’s No1 for the Intertoto Cup win ahead of Steve Harper and Tim KrulCredit: Getty – Contributor
STEPHEN CARR
Another former Irish international, Carr spent five years at St James’ Park following 13 seasons at Totteham.
The right-back moved to Birmingham in 2009 before retiring four years later.
The club had hoped he’d stay on as coach, but Carr instead headed to Spain to open a string of bars – with Eva Longoria and Katie Price among the punters.
Stephen Carr was right-back for Newcastle in 2006Credit: AP:Associated Press
TITUS BRAMBLE
A £6million buy under Sir Bobby Robson, Bramble became famous for a string of blunders and was even voted the Premier League’s Worst Player of the Year in 2004 by The Fiver.
But his volleyed goal against Chelsea secured Newcastle’s place in the Intertoto Cup en route to their victory.
The cult icon also played for Ipswich, Wigan and Sunderland in his career, before retiring in 2013.
Bramble briefly served as player-coach at non-league Stowmarket Town in 2017 following a spell as Under-11s coach at Ipswich in 2014.
He is now an ambassador and lead coach for Future Stars 15 – helping youngsters in Togo and Ghana.
Titus Bramble was a regular in the Newcastle XI during their European runCredit: Reuters
STEVEN TAYLOR
The New Zealand defender spent a staggering 21 years at Newcastle – and saw them yo-yo between the Premier League and Championship as well as their Intertoto Cup success.
The centre-back still only managed 268 appearances in the first-team in that time before embarking a late journeyman career.
Taylor played for Portland Timbers, Ipswich, Peterborough, Wellington Phoenix (twice) and Odisha before retiring in 2021.
Last year, Taylor was named coach of Gulf United in the UAE and helped the team achieve promotion to the Second Division.
Newcastle legend was part of the XI to beat Lillestrom in 2006Credit: PA:Press Association
CELESTINE BABAYARO
The left-back joined the Toon from Chelsea in 2005 and would play 47 times before rekindling his relationship with old Blues boss Ruud Gullit at LA Galaxy.
But after a fall-out regarding his attitude, he was axed after just 45 minutes of pre-season action.
Babayaro trained with Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth, but he retired after they failed to offer the Nigerian a contract.
Since retiring, Babayaro has a number of reported business interests, including football agent and brand ambassador for Nigerian National League side Kaduna United.
Celestine Babayaro was Newcastle’s left-back later in his careerCredit: PA:Press Association
NOLBERTO SOLANO
The Toon legend starred at St James’ Park across two spells – between 1998-2004 and 2005-2007 – with a stint at Aston Villa sandwiched between.
“Nobby” racked up over 300 appearances in all, including the Intertoto Cup success, before winding down his career with West Ham, Larissa, Universitario, Leicester, Hull and Hartlepool.
Solano moved into coaching, first with non-league Newcastle Benfield, before spells in Peru and Canada.
He most-recently worked as Peru’s assistant manager – leaving his post in June 2022.
Toon icon Nobby Solano started in midfield for the Lillestrom victoryCredit: EPA
EMRE
The Turkey legend spent three seasons at Newcastle – including the Intertoto Cup-winning year.
He scored the third in the 3-0 win at Lillestrom.
Emre played 82 times for the club, before turning out for Fenerbahce across three spells, as well as Atletico Madrid and Istanbul Basaksehir.
The midfielder retired in 2020 before taking over as Fenerbahce interim boss in 2021.
He later took charge of Istanbul Basaksehir – where he still manages to this day.
Emre kept Nicky Butt out of the XI for the big win in NorwayCredit: PA:Press Association
SCOTT PARKER
The ex-Toon captain has hit the headlines recently with Club Brugge fans already turning on their recently-appointed boss.
Before all that though, Parker enjoyed a stellar career with Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham.
The 18-cap England international retired in 2017 before moving into management.
Parker took charge of Fulham between 2019 and 2021, before his time at Bournemouth.
He was sacked by the Cherries just days after a 9-0 thumping against Liverpool in August 2022.
Parker is now in charge of Club Brugge in Belgium, but fans were quick to vent their frustration after just seven weeks amid a torrid run of form.
Scott Parker was captain of the Newcastle team to lift the Intertoto Cup plaqueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
CHARLES N’ZOGBIA
The two-cap former France star kicked off his senior career at Newcastle, playing 155 times between 2004 and 2009.
He spent three years at Wigan and four at Aston Villa before a proposed move to Nantes was cancelled after the discovery of a heart issue.
N’Zogbia never officially announced his retirement and lives a low-profile life in France.
Charles N’Zogbia started in midfield for the 3-0 victory in NorwayCredit: PA:Press Association
JAMES MILNER
Just a youngster during the Intertoto Cup campaign, Milner spent two years in the Leeds first team before moving to St James’.
The then-winger-turned-full-back-turned-central-midfielder moved to Villa in 2008 before five seasons with newly-rich Man City, helping them to their first Premier League title.
Milner moved on a free to Liverpool in 2015 and would go on to help them also win their first Prem crown in 2019-20, as well as the Champions League in 2018-19.
He was also a key member of the squad to win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season, as well as reach the Champions League final.
Still playing at Liverpool at the age of 37, the 61-cap England international is trusted by boss Jurgen Klopp to be an experienced leader in big matches.
The super-fit, age-defying midfielder is almost certain to move into coaching after retiring from playing.
A young James Milner started in an attacking midfield roleCredit: EPA
SHOLA AMEOBI
The forward spent 19 years at Newcastle, working his way through the youth ranks and playing 397 times for the first-team, scoring 79 goals.
He scored the first two goals in the Lillestrom win, en route to Intertoto Cup glory.
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Wound down his career with Gaziantep, Crystal Palace, Bolton, Fleetwood and Notts County before retiring in 2018.
A year later he returned to Newcastle to become the club’s first ever loan manager.
Shola Ameobi was the hero for Newcastle on the day scoring twiceCredit: PA:Press Association More

ERIK TEN HAG has confirmed Marcus Rashford is a doubt for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.The red-hot England star, 25, sparked injury concerns with a cryptic Instagram post following the 2-1 Europa League win over Barcelona.
Marcus Rashford needed treatment after picking up a knock late in Man Utd’s win over BarcelonaCredit: Getty
And Ten Hag appears to have confirmed Rashford could miss Man Utd’s first Wembley showdown in six years.
When asked about Rashford’s knock, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know, the players now are coming in.
“We have to do investigations, medical of course.
“We did straight after the game, but most of the time you have to wait for a 100 per cent diagnosis.
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“So let’s do the medical, the work, we have to wait.”
Rashford was in action as Man Utd side edged past Barcelona in the Europa League.
Ten Hag’s men produced a rousing comeback to win 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.
But Rashford’s evening ended on a sour note as he was subbed off in the 88th minute, looking clearly uncomfortable.
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The red-hot forward removed his left boot and walked straight down the tunnel after talking to Ten Hag.
After the match, he took to Instagram – but not just to celebrate the win like many of his team-mates.
Instead, he posted a snap of himself walking off with his boot in his hand, accompanied by a bandaged emoji.
Fans quickly took that to mean he was an injury worry for Sunday.
And Ten Hag’s update appears to have confirmed that.
Rashford’s absence would be a huge loss with the England ace in scintillating form since the World Cup.
The forward has bagged 17 goals in 20 appearances after returning from Qatar.
Ten Hag may now be forced to find another way to beat an “annoying” Newcastle XI.
Erik ten Hag confirmed Marcus Rashford could miss the clash with injuryCredit: Getty
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game, the Man Utd boss said: “They’re an annoying team to play against, so we have to find a way to win. They try to annoy you. 
“For instance you want to play an effective time. They have the lowest in the league and they are quite successful with it.
“So it’s up to us that we get speed in the game and we are also then dependent on the refereeing as well.
“We have to make it our game and focus on the job, on playing football.
“We have to concentrate on the job and not get distracted and find our moments when we can strike.”
Ten Hag was also praiseworthy of Newcastle’s football when the ball is actually on the pitch.
He said: “It’s a great team, a clear philosophy about how they want to play the game. The key word is intensity, they do really well.”
Ten Hag wants to leave nothing to chance as the Red Devils bid for their first trophy in six years.
He said: “It is a great opportunity to get silverware in.
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“It is all about glory and honour in football. We deserve to play in the final and now we have a great opportunity to win the cup and we have to do everything to get it to Manchester.
“The fans are really waiting for it, so we have do everything we can to give the fans their honour.” More