Joe Willock was unlucky not to claim his fourth goal of the season in the win at Crystal Palace

Fancy a double dollop of sticky Toffee pudding? No, too potentially sickening? Well you're going to get it, want it or not.

The Toffees of Everton are Newcastle's next opponents not once but twice in four days . . . one-time Sunderland boss David Moyes and his confrontational troops led by 'Short Arms' himself Jordan Pickford, the Mackem Geordies love to hate.

Not the most attractive of opposition - more a war of attrition - but then United haven't been in the best shape of their lives and have to make the most of it.

A 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace over the weekend was a welcome lifter of spirits brought about not least by the return of injury victims Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Will Osula but much always depends in the League Cup on how the respective managers play it: resting players for the rigours of the PL or going all out for the glory of silverware at Wembley.

Especially when you are in the position of United and Everton who are not going to win Premier titles.

We all know that No 10 is the Parliamentary seat of power but it is also the hub of Matthias Jaissle's tactical formation. Eddie Howe went without one.

Quite a few have been tried there - midfielders and attackers - but the only one to do the job anywhere near properly in terms of goal support has been Joe Willock who, if the Turks have their way, could be leaving us in January. That must be stopped at least until United do their own business in the transfer market.

Big Joe Mark II was extremely unlucky to have his fourth goal of the season chalked off at Selhurst Park by the finest of offside margins. The only scorer to match him is Harvey Barnes who got his fourth moments later.

All right, Palace are awful and therefore wild optimism must be restrained but then Coventry are awful and United were crushed 4-1 there. Small but significant steps. Let us not get carried away, the Mags were shocking for the first 45 minutes. This was welcome but not Champions League opposition put to the buck. Let us see what is next on the switchback.

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Everton has resembled a bombsite this year, yet Moyes has valiantly kept them alive.

He was badly let down in the summer when recruitment was almost non-existent, his contract is up at the end of the season, and absent landlords are trying to get out.

The Friedkin Group are looking to sell leaving Moyes' contract talks in tatters.

Yet against a backdrop of unrest and a frosty relationship between boardroom and manager's office the Chelsea defeat recently was Everton's first of the season.

However champions Arsenal up next on their own midden was as difficult as it can get and sure enough it ended in another 2-0 defeat.

Bubble burst - or are United an ideal opportunity to get back on track? Take yer pick!

The League Cup is the Magpies' favourite competition since Mike Ashley was confined to our greatest nightmares. Two Wembley finals 2023 and 2025, the last one won, and regular visits deep into the tournament. However such sustained success was under Howe. This is the first season Matthias Jaissle has been boss and Merseyside represents our third match. First-time PL opposition. This is the tester.

How much the competition means to the Toon Army is reflected in the fact that United will be backed by 7,732 fans - their largest away support since 7,800 were at Manchester City for the FA Cup sixth round in March 2024.

That alone should inspire whoever is picked to start, while emphasising how meek surrender would be received.

The Toffees make up for what they lack in flair with hard work, relentless dedication to the cause, and never-die spirit.

If Newcastle have been generous in defence before Crystal Palace, leaking goals for fun, then Everton are powderpuff up front - eight goals from eight PL matches. If we need a centre-forward then, brother, do they. Their neglect in the summer transfer market left them with just one, Thierno Barry, and he is hardly a natural finisher against top-level opposition.

There were several good performances that sparked a two-goal victory at Selhurst Park from an iffy first half, but I felt the combination of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn in what had been a soft centre of the defence was hugely significant. What we had before was littered with holes. Malick Thiaw as well as Sven Botman was shot.

It was good to see the return of Burn, Osula, and Amar Dedic from long term injury plus Jaissle realising the value of Schar after his battle for match sharpness. How all four will be used with two matches of contrast coming up against Everton is in the hands of the manager but overall it has been a reassuring sight.

The basis of any Newcastle success this term remains mainly rooted in the players who were already here as opposed to those bought in the summer.

However if the load is to be spread over the whole team there is new boy Sean Steur along with longer term residents Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey to be utilised. Decent options.

After Everton away it's Everton at home next Monday. Which one would you most like Newcastle to win given the choice?