For a long period of time since the turn of the century, many people have turned to Newcastle United as a source of FA Cup Third Round shocks. The Magpies weak record at this stage of the competition has always been a clear frustration for fans who reluctantly acknowledge the decades-long period that Newcastle have now gone without major silverware.

Times have well and truly changed at St James’ Park however. Now more than a year under the era of their new, extremely rich owners, Eddie Howe’s side have merged steady, sensible transfer recruitment with a pursuit at the Premier League’s top places. European qualification feels a likely target, quite possibly for the UEFA Champions League, and with Newcastle’s desire to be among England’s elite will come a desire to win England’s premier cup competitions. The Magpies remain in the League Cup for now, and the FA Cup will undoubtedly be a desire as well.

A game against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday provides the perfect opportunity to show how much Howe’s team have grown from the perceived cup pushovers of past seasons. Newcastle United fans now have much-wanted belief and do not fear anyone in the country, let alone a team 43 places lower in the football pyramid…

With 45 league goals, Sheffield Wednesday are the third-highest scorers in League One this season. 30 of those goals have come in home games, the clear most of anyone in the third tier. Darren Moore’s attack-heavy 3-4-1-2 is spearheaded by Michael Smith and Callum Paterson, attacking midfielder Josh Windass recently catching the eye with a hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Cambridge United. The absence of star midfielder Barry Bannan has presented an opportunity for the likes of George Byers, Will Vaulks and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to showcase their individual qualities, with Marvin Johnson and Mallik Wilks providing width. The Owls have been blanked at Hillsborough just twice in 2022-23.

Whilst Newcastle’s most recent result demonstrated their aggressive robustness, the Magpies frontline needs no introduction. Callum Wilson or Chris Wood lead the line, supported by the revitalised Paraguayan Miguel Almirón, the entertaining Allan Saint-Maximin, and all-action forward-turned-midfielder Joelinton. The game against lower league opposition may present an opportunity for Elliot Anderson to play. The 20-year-old’s loan spell at Bristol Rovers last season was a huge success, looking like a Championship-level player who was operating at fourth tier level.

High quality attacks on both sides, and at a venue where the game’s underdogs are always a threat, it’s entirely possible that both teams could finish the match having scored at least once.

If Sheffield Wednesday are to hurt Newcastle United, their best hope could come from Michael Smith. The 31-year-old is the Owl’s top scorer this season with eight goals in League One and 11 in all competitions. The physical striker is a third tier promotion specialist, having climbed out of League One three times with previous club Rotherham United, hitting double figures in each of his two seasons prior to 2022-23. Smith’s height makes him an excellent target for crosses, often benefitting from playing in a strike partnership, much like the one he has in Darren Moore’s side. 44 of his 48 league shots this season have come from within the penalty area. Michael Smith is in turn Sheffield Wednesday’s penalty taker when present on the pitch.