EDDIE HOWE admits Newcastle United’s long-suffering supporters have had to wait too long to watch their side in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

You have to go all the way back to 1976 to find the last time the Magpies featured in a League Cup semi-final, but they can look forward to a return to the last four after this evening’s 2-0 win over Leicester City.

Newcastle will discover the identity of their semi-final opponents when the draw is made tomorrow, and while he insists he is not really looking beyond this weekend’s league game with Fulham, Howe is proud to have led his side into the last four.

He said: “It's too long, too long a wait. That's no criticism of anyone that's tried, but we're desperate to hurry up the processes and try to get the team successful as quickly as possible.

“That's easier said than done, and we now go to a semi-final. Getting to the semi-final is one thing, but you want to get into the final, you want to experience that.

“We know we'll have a huge test ahead of us whoever we get, but we're just delighted to be in there.”

Howe was delighted with his players’ patience this evening, with Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward repelling a series of opportunities before Dan Burn finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark.

The Magpies boss said: “I was very pleased because I think you can start shooting from long distances, you can start not playing your normal way.

“It's really important that we kept doing the right things that were creating the chances in the first place in the hope that we do find our composure in front of goal.

“Their goalkeeper made a number of good saves, you have to give him credit for what he did, but we back the quality we have.

“I thought the goal was there for us, but Leicester are such a dangerous team on transition, so when (Jamie) Vardy came on and the attacking players they have, they're always in the game, so I thought we did well to contain them.”