In terms of cold, hard silverware, domestic cups might be as good as it gets after Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss

There is nothing quite like the first time. Or the first time in living memory, at least. Of all the strides taken by Newcastle since the Saudi takeover in 2021, the Carabao Cup will always be the stop on the road sprinkled with the most magic. Champions League football is more than nice, the return of adventure to following this club appreciated as much as the swelling of the club coffers, in these days when every fan at every club feels like a de facto bean counter as well as a cheerleader.

But after those 56 years without a trophy, how could it be any other way? When Eddie Howe’s team finally broke that desperate drought on 16 March last year, it was a lifetime highlight for all different generations.