The Magpies host Arsenal tonight in the semi-final second leg with one foot in the final thanks to their 2-0 victory in the capital last month.
Howe won’t take anything for granted against an Arsenal side who will head for the North East buoyed by their emphatic Premier League victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
But he’s calling on his players to relish and cherish the occasion on what will be a special night under the lights at St James’ Park.
The game comes just a couple of days after the January transfer window closed, with Newcastle failing to make any signings and losing Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly.
Those deals were reluctantly sanctioned by the Magpies in order to ensure they continue to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
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And Howe wants the unity of his small squad to be a super-power tonight and in the weeks and months to come.
He said: “I’ve spoken many times about the challenges the last few windows have given us, and I think we need to always try to navigate away from the problems and try to find a different place to control our thoughts, really.
“These things can sometimes act as a strength for you and that’s very much how I am trying to pull the group together, have real unity in smaller numbers, and we keep fighting in every phase. Sometimes that unity can be really, really powerful.
“I don’t think it’s ideal. We’d love to have brought new energy into the group – that’s being very honest – but that wasn’t to be our world in this window, so we have to make the best of the situation.”
Newcastle have lost their last two Premier League home games and if Arsenal score first tonight to half the deficit in the tie, anxiety could quickly set in inside St James’ Park.
But Howe said: “You have to channel those feelings. What I have tried to do with players is to channel those thoughts into excitement. It is a game you want to be involved in. I don’t think we want to look at it in any other way.
“What an opportunity for us. And I am not necessarily talking about the scoreline leading into the game, I am talking about the game itself. It is a game we are going to try to win and I think that is the best way to attack the game, look at it purely as a one game opportunity to get to a cup final.”
