EDDIE Howe says his preparation for Wednesday night's Carabao Cup trip to Nottingham Forest was "tinged with sadness" after he watched Elliot Anderson shining for his new club.

Howe was gutted to lose Anderson in the summer, with the Magpies reluctantly sanctioning the exit of the boyhood Newcastle fan as they desperately fought to raise enough funds to beat June's PSR deadline.

Anderson made his first start for Nuno Espirito Santo's side in the weekend win at Southampton, which Howe watched back with a feeling of if-only, with the head coach having previously told of how he didn't want to lose the 21-year-old in the summer.

"Watching their game it was good to see Elliot play so well against Southampton but it was tinged with sadness because we've lost an outstanding player and person," said the Newcastle boss.

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Howe will put those emotions to one side when Newcastle come up against their former player tomorrow night, with United's boss desperate to once again go deep in a competition that the Magpies have fared well in over the last couple of season.

Newcastle suffered final heartbreak two seasons ago before coming agonisingly close to making the last four last term when Chelsea equalised in stoppage time in the quarter-finals and won on penalties.

Despite Howe's desire to do well in the League Cup, he will tinker with his side at the City Ground.

He said: "We'll look at that. We'll try and play a strong team and we want to progress but we'll look to make changes as well.

"You saw the strength of our bench on Sunday which made a huge difference.

"We're determined to try and do well. We've had that focus to try and do well in every competition. Last year we were incredibly close to another semi-final, which was a low point in our season.

"There's no ranking in terms of competitions. We want to win every game."

Sandro Tonali is available to return for Newcastle and will be in the squad. Summer signing Will Osula could make his first start.

Howe said: "Will is doing really well, I'm very pleased with him.

"It’s always a big step when you come to a club of this size and everything that goes with that, it’s a lot for a young player to take on board, his first move as well in his career.

"I think he’s handled himself with real class, trained very well, he’s been very level and grounded and focusing on his game to make improvements he needs to make but he’s got all the qualities we saw when we signed him. We’re really looking forward to see how his career develops."