Fans have been left stunned after becoming aware of the message Eddie Howe has been using to motivate his Newcastle United players.
The Magpies play in their first cup final since 1999 on Sunday as they look to beat Manchester United to win the Carabao Cup at Wembley.
Newcastle haven't won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 1956 and are desperate to end the wretched drought. Howe could be the man to do it and he's been reminding his players of the last time the club won a bit of silverware.
In fact, it's emerged that since November onwards, the words, 'We have not won a domestic trophy in 67 years' has been shown on a big screen in large font' at the Benton training ground.
The tactic would appear to be something straight out of the Sir Alex Ferguson playbook and has garnered plenty of reaction online.
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One commented: "Newcastle gonna be a scary game, Eddie Howe is cooking something."
A second added: "67 years? Oh make them take the cup."
A third said: "Quality banter material if things don’t go as planned. But who banters Newcastle?"
While another wrote: "On Monday morning, he'll need to edit it to 68."
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A fifth tweeted: "Yeah they’re definitely owning United on Sunday.
A final user weighed in: "Won’t change the fact it’ll be 68 years this year."
Howe, however, has shifted the approach a tad in recent times and tried to take the pressure off his players for such a big fixture.
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"In the early rounds we definitely used that (the trophy drought) but as it goes to the other end of the competition, we have tried to take the pressure off rather than add pressure on," he said, as per Chronicle Live.
"It can be a very delicate balance sometimes on how you prepare psychologically for these games. As I say when you get to this stage I think the players know the responsibilities. The pressures they will face, it is a case for me to take them away and focus on the match itself."
Newcastle are in a goalkeeping crisis for the final after first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off for a clumsy handball outside the box against Liverpool.
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Martin Dubravka is cup-tied after playing in the competition for United, meaning former Liverpool shotstopper Loris Karius is set to get the nod.
Topics: Eddie Howe, Newcastle United, Premier League, Carabao Cup, Manchester United