Allow the first-choice stopper for Wembley to gain momentum ahead of the big day, by offering them a pre-final run out at West Ham United just six days before the showpiece. If Pope is the man for the final, he must be brought back into the fold for both trips to the capital this month.

Eddie Howe has admitted that his Newcastle United players have “dropped” their performance levels since reaching the Carabao Cup final.

Eddie Howe says he did not feel Anthony Gordon meant any harm in the challenge that saw the Newcastle forward sent off in the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup.Alexander Isak had opened