Newcastle United are bidding to end a staggering 68-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they take on Manchester United in the League Cup final this evening.

Their last one came in 1955, when they lifted the FA Cup, and Eddie Howe and his team now have a chance to etch their names into the history books with a win today.

The Magpies do, however, come into the match off the back of three matches without a win in the Premier League and lost their last outing, 2-0, to Liverpool at St. James' Park.

This could be Howe's most important team selection since he arrived at the club in 2021 and one player who must be unleashed from the start is centre-forward Callum Wilson.

Should Callum Wilson start in the League Cup final for Newcastle?

The England international was a substitute against the Reds last time out but should be brought back into the XI for this clash as the marksman is a proven goalscorer for the club and Alexander Isak could provide a huge threat off the bench.

Isak has scored once in his last five starts for the Magpies but has produced one goal and one assist in his last four appearances off the bench, which suggests that the Sweden international has the ability to make a significant impact as a substitute.

Wilson, meanwhile, scored in his last start - against West Ham - for Newcastle with the gem having been a prolific scorer for the club for many years.

The £46k-per-week dynamo has delivered seven goals and three assists in 14 Premier League starts this season. Last term, the forward managed eight goals in 16 starts and that came after he plundered 12 strikes and five assists in 23 starts during his debut campaign with the club after joining from Bournemouth in 2020.

These statistics show that the striker, who teammate Kieran Trippier dubbed "non-stop", is a reliable scorer and creator for Newcastle at the top level.

Reach PLC editor Andrew Musgrove once hailed the Englishman's "clinical edge" and his record in the Premier League since arriving from the Cherries backs that up, as the 30-year-old has 27 strikes to his name in 53 starts - more than a goal every other match.

The ex-Bournemouth man has proven his quality and his reliability over the course of his three seasons on Tyneside and Howe must reward the talent by unleashing him from the start at Wembley, which also allows Isak to be utilised as a super-sub off the bench.