EDDIE HOWE is confident Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin are ready to step in to address Newcastle United’s goalscoring problems if they are called upon during the two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton.

The Magpies head to Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium for the first leg of only the second League Cup semi-final in their history tomorrow evening.

They travel south in a confident mood after Saturday’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 matches, but are mindful of the need to improve a scoring record that has seen them fail to find the net in three of their last four league games.

Isak and Saint-Maximin were both second-half substitutes at Selhurst Park, but despite Newcastle’s lack of success in front of goal in recent weeks, neither player has started a game other than the FA Cup third-round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday since mid-September.

It remains to be seen whether that changes in either leg of the semi-final, but while Isak is still building up his fitness after being sidelined for the best part of three months through injury, Howe is adamant that both players are capable of making a positive impact if required.

“I’d say they’re both getting there, for sure,” said the Newcastle head coach. “I think it’s different situations. With Alex, we’ve had to be mindful of the fact that he hasn’t had a lot of training time.

“With a lot of games, you can’t train the players to the intensity that Alex has probably needed. We’ve backed off his training, and exposed him to the games, but at some stage, he will need that training loan to get back to his very best levels. We’re nursing him in gently.

“Allan has had more training time. He’s had more fitness work, so I think Allan is in peak physical shape.”