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Carabao Cup news conferences: Tottenham manager Thomas Frank speaking shortly Guardiola on Haaland's fitness after what he says was a 'demanding' week for his players Eddie Howe confirms that new signing Yoane Wissa does not need surgery after suffering a knee injury on international duty and hopeful to be back after the international break The third round sees eight fixtures on Tuesday including Liverpool v Southampton and Lincoln City v Chelsea, with Brentford, Palace, Grimsby & Swansea already through - when is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw? Phil Mc Nulty Q&A taking place - get your questions in Phil's views on the 'subjectivity of the Ballon d'Or' but Dembele a 'worthy winner' | West Ham's problems | Spurs' strikers | Sterling in exile? | On Guardiola's approach Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say Written by Craig Nelson, Ben Ramsdale, Grace Wheeler and Mel Edwards. Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra has been ruled out until December after having an operation to resolve a groin injury. The 21-year-old Senegal international suffered the problem during training before the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday. Sunderland said Diarra had "successful" surgery on Monday. Diarra joined the Black Cats from Strasbourg in July in a deal worth a reported club record £30m. He played in each of Sunderland's four Premier League games prior to the Villa match, while he also made two appearances for Senegal in September. Before Phil Mc Nulty takes charge, let's bring you up to date on today's latest news. .. Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil Mc Nulty is ready and waiting to answer all your footballing questions. He will be let loose on this page from 11: 00 BST, so get those questions in folks. Just use the 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page and remember to mark your questions for Phil's attention. Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United If you are just joining us, the focus of the morning has been on Newcastle, as they prepare to begin the defence of their Carabao Cup crown. Manager Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media to preview Wednesday's third-round tie at home to League One pacesetters Bradford City. Here are the top lines from his news conference: Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport Newcastle may be struggling to score goals in the Premier

League this season following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool but

their defence has been rock solid. Eddie Howe’s side have kept a league-high four clean sheets

in five matches. The Magpies have only conceded three goals in the league so

far, all of which came in the loss to Liverpool when the visitors scored twice

after Newcastle had gone down to 10 men. Newcastle also have the lowest expected goals tally against (2. 6)

of any Premier League team so far this season, have faced the fewest shots (37)

and are yet to make an error leading to a goal. Their almost flawless defence has been particularly useful

on the road, earning three points in goalless draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.

Should Newcastle’s attack start to click in conjunction with

their defensive solidity, the Magpies should start to climb the Premier League

table. Newcastle have excelled in defence this season While his team may be struggling in front of goal so far this season, Eddie Howe's defence has stood firm. .. Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) The question is, should Eddie Howe start new signing Nick Woltemade against Bradford City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, to get him valuable minutes with the team, or should the Germany Under-21 international be wrapped in cotton wool for the Premier League game against Arsenal on Sunday? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no. Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport Newcastle United face Bradford City in the Carabao Cup on

Wednesday – the competition they won to end their 70-year domestic trophy

drought in March – having so far struggled to score goals this season. The overriding factor has been the protracted departure of

Alexander Isak, who scored the winning goal in the EFL Cup final six months ago

– ironically against Liverpool, the club he would go on to join in acrimonious

circumstances for a British record fee. Isak scored 23 goals and provided six assists in last

season's Premier League, meaning he was directly involved in more than 40% of

Newcastle’s total league goals, scoring 33. 85% of them. Newcastle replaced Isak with the signings of Brentford

forward Yoane Wissa and Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade but Wissa was injured

on international duty with DR Congo. Woltemade scored on debut in the 1-0 win against Wolves but

Anthony Gordon was preferred as a false nine to start the Champions League

defeat against Barcelona. Newcastle’s tally of three goals after five games is their

third fewest at this stage of a Premier League season behind 2005-06 (1) and

2015-16 (2), while their finishing this season is amongst the worst in the

league. Newcastle have so far struggled to convert chances this season Eddie Howe also spoke about Newcastle's struggles in front of goal - they have scored four in six matches in all competitions this season. .. Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Right, that's all from Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. A reminder of the top line from his news conference, that summer signing Yoane Wissa is receiving treatment on the knee injury he picked up playing for DR Congo but that "no operation" is needed. Howe added that he hopes that Wissa will be available following next month's international break and fit to feature in Newcastle's Premier League match against Brighton on 18 October. Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United A final word from Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on Carabao Cup opponents Bradford City, who are top of League One with just one defeat and 20 points in their first nine league games: "They are very good, very strong. I have watched them in-depth like I do every opponent and I am full of praise for how they are playing. They have a unique style and it is working for them. "I think Graham [Alexander, pictured below] has done an outstanding job. He is someone I know well having managed him myself and it is great to see him going into management in the way that he has done. He is very experienced and has over 500 games under his belt and he is doing very well. "Knowing him as I do, I know he will have done his work on us as well so I think you can expect two very well organised teams. "They have got clear strengths, they are playing with confidence and they are physically a very good team. Anyone who is winning games regularly and top of their league will be a threat so we will pick a strong team. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United More from Eddie Howe on why it is important for more players in his Newcastle team to "chip in with goals": "It's up to everybody to chip in with goals and historically we have done that really well. Our defenders last year and the season before were regular goalscorers whether that be from set-plays or open play. We can't be reliant on one department. "Certainly the creativity of the team has been very strong for us and our full-backs have been some of our best attackers in recent seasons and that has to be the case again. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was asked if Nick Woltemade should be judged more on Alexander Isak's first season rather than his latter two: "I don't think any comparison to Alex is favourable to any player because I wouldn't do that in other positions. Every player is unique in their own right and Nick is certainly that. "I thought overall he had a decent game [against Bournemouth] and I think some of his link-play and build-up was really good. He was a focal point in the game that we needed and enabled us to get higher up the pitch and I thought he contributed in a number of ways. "As a team, we didn't function particularly well in the attacking-half, there is no denying that. We weren't creating chances for him and to a degree, as a centre-forward, you are a reliant on that service and we didn't provide him with enough. The team has to take responsibility for that and we have to take responsibility for that. "As I said a second ago, I see no reason why we won't score goals. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United More from Eddie Howe on the evolution of his Newcastle team: "I think naturally you do evolve as time goes on. I think we are probably going through a period where we have had the biggest change to the squad in my time here. "In an ideal world you have a full six-week pre-season and you iron out any issues you have and you can form your partnerships and team relationships as you start the season. "We are in the position now where we have to do it as we play but I have no issue with doing that, I have done it before. "I am excited about the team we can be. We certainly have things to learn about each other and formulas to try and generate that we know will work but I think the biggest thing is; the foundation is solid, the team is playing with strength and I think we are just missing that X-factor. "I think that will come with the players that we have. Some are guaranteed goals and have done that historically and I see no reason why we won't as a team score regularly again. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was asked what it was like going into this year's competition as holders: "It is nice, it has got a nice feel about it. It is something that we acknowledge and we want to respect that by trying to do our best to go on another good run. "As we found last year, the early rounds are very difficult. We played Wimbledon and it was a very difficult game, a 1-0 win and it was the same two years before. We squeezed through against Tranmere - they are tough games. "We fully respect every opponent and these early rounds are so important that you just try and find a way to get through. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Here's more on that line about Yoane Wissa's injury from Newcastle manager Eddie Howe: "He's receiving treatment. No operation needed. We're looking the other side of the international break and hoping he'll be fit and available for that first game. " The international break will take place between Newcastle's Premier League games at home to Nottingham Forest (5 October) and away to Brighton (18 October). Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on what it would mean to go far in the EFL Cup again: "The experiences that we have been through in the competition and not just last year, two seasons ago, were memorable to say the least. They are some of my strongest memories of success. The semi-finals, the whole experience of the competition - I think it's a great one. "I think because you are going into it early in the season as well, it has a freshness to it but we are up against tough opponents, they are doing very well in their league and they are on a strong winning run. They have beaten two Championship teams to get to this point so full credit to them and Graham Alexander. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on squad rotation against Bradford: "There will be an element of rotation. The guys that have played three games last week, we might look to give them a rest but we want to pick a strong team and want to progress so we have to get the balance right. "We also don't want players to lose rhythm so that is really important to. " Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Eddie Howe has given an update on summer signing Yoane Wissa's knee injury, which the DR Congo striker picked up on international duty. He says he does not require surgery. More to follow. Newcastle United v Bradford City (Wed, 19: 45 BST) Newcastle United Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was asked about the depth he has available: "I think we have a strong squad and I think the rotation that we made in the game is a reflection of that. "Two years ago we got to a stage where we couldn't rotate anybody and we are just trying to navigate the situation better if we can this time around but we still want to win games. "I thought the team we picked against Bournemouth was a very strong team and I thought we performed strongly albeit without a real goal threat. " Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.