Eddie Howe questions EFL rule change as Man City new signing set to face Newcastle

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has admitted he is far from a fan of the EFL’s updated eligibility rules, with the change allowing Manchester City new signing Antoine Semenyo to feature against his side in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Semenyo, who completed a £62.5million move from AFC Bournemouth last week, is eligible to face Newcastle in Tuesday night’s first leg at St James’ Park despite already appearing in the competition earlier this season.

The Ghana international came off the bench during Bournemouth’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford in the second round back in August, but is now free to represent City under the EFL’s newly introduced Rule 6.4.

That regulation allows players to represent up to two clubs in the same competition during a single season.

Asked about the change, Howe responded with a wry smile, admitting the timing of the rule update was far from ideal from a Newcastle perspective.

“Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they’d signed him,” Howe said.

“I have to say that’s one rule change I probably wouldn’t be supportive of at this current moment.

“But Antoine’s had an incredible season. I’m a big admirer of his and he scored on his debut, so fair play to him. I think Manchester City have signed a very, very good player.”

Semenyo wasted no time making an impression for his new club, scoring on his debut during City’s 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter City at the weekend.

Whatever line-up Pep Guardiola selects on Tyneside, Howe is under no illusions about the scale of the task facing his side as they look to defend the trophy Newcastle lifted last season.

That triumph, secured against Liverpool, ended the club’s 70-year wait for domestic silverware, but Howe insists his players cannot allow reputations or pedigrees to influence their mindset.

Guardiola’s managerial journey took him from FC Barcelona to Bayern Munich before his era-defining spell at City. Howe’s path, by contrast, began in League Two with Bournemouth before rising through the divisions the hard way.

Yet the Newcastle boss is adamant that background cannot become a psychological barrier.

“You can’t look at yourself as inferior,” Howe explained.

“You can’t think of your journey, you just have to think of the here and now and you have to think of trying to win.

“That’s all we are trying to do on a daily basis, trying to come out on the right side of things.”

While Howe rarely reflects on how far he has come, he believes his grounding in the lower leagues has shaped both his approach and resilience.

“The grounding we had, the education we had in the lower leagues was incredible,” he added.

“We learned the hard way in terms of successes and failures and eventually, through hard work and dedication, we’ve ended up where we are now.

“Our education has been invaluable to us.”

Newcastle will be without Tino Livramento, who is set to undergo a scan on a hamstring injury, but Howe remains focused on the immediate task rather than perceived disadvantages.

Newcastle host Manchester City in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, with a place at Wembley on the line. Howe’s side will look to draw on last season’s cup-winning belief as they attempt to overcome Guardiola’s injury-hit but still formidable City squad.