A heavyweight tie in the ‘most beautiful cup’published at 17:17 GMT
17:17 GMT
Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:45 GMT)
Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at Villa Park
Image source, Getty Images
Could this be Aston Villa’s year?
Unai Emery has made it clear that the Premier League is his priority.
But the Aston Villa manager has hailed the FA Cup as the “most beautiful cup in the world” as his side look to stay in contention to win a trophy for the first time since 1996.
“We have in mind how important
the FA Cup is for our fans,” he writes in his programme notes before the fourth-round tie against Newcastle United.
There may only be a place in the last 16 at stake this
evening, but one day returning to Wembley is also huge source of inspiration
for Newcastle, of course.
Eddie Howe’s side ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic
trophy by winning the EFL Cup last season.
Forward Anthony Elanga, who joined the club from Nottingham
Forest last summer, watched on from afar as 150,000 supporters lined the streets
of Newcastle for the victory parade.
That has given the Swede “motivation to give them more”.
“Villa are a top side, but we believe in ourselves,” he
said. “Here at the club, the ambition is to go far – not just to
participate – and it’s a fantastic opportunity to go there and really put a
marker down.”