Steve Bruce refuses to rule out successful Carabao Cup run despite depleted Newcastle United ranks

Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes head to Tyneside with the Magpies in the midst of a mini-injury crisis – with NINE of the club’s 25-man squad potentially out of the St James’s Park encounter.

But Bruce is adamant his severely depleted group can do the business and make it to round three – as well as make a mark on the cup competitions this campaign.

“If Hull is capable of getting to a final and maintain Premier League status then a club like this can too, surely?” said Bruce.

“We have 25 players named in a squad, I can’t put four or five in, so we have a squad big enough to make changes. I have experience players behind me not even stripped.”

While Spurs was a massive win for United, it will seem like a distant memory if by the weekend the Magpies are out of the League Cup and fail to beat Watford in the Premier League.

“We always knew it was a big week – a big cup tie, then Watford before the break,” said Bruce.

“If we can get through then take something from Watford we can have a good week.”

He added: “Leicester have bought good players over the last few years, the pinnacle was when they won the PL they have slowly built on it. They have a very good coach and manager, they have strengthened very well over the years.”