The Magpies have won the competition six times, but not since 1955 despite a series of near misses, and Pardew, who has himself come close to lifting the trophy as both a player and a manager, believes it could represent a genuine chance of silverware. He said: "This club ultimately needs to hunt for trophies and if you could win a cup, that's certainly going to be the easier route than trying to win the Premier League, which we know is awfully difficult with the finances of some of the top clubs." However, the third-round trip to League Two Stevenage, which looked tricky enough to start with, has been made all the more difficult by a catalogue of injuries which has left Pardew without several key players and keeping his fingers crossed over others. Add to that the prospect of a derby clash with Sunderland next weekend with the Black Cats desperate to gain revenge for their 5-1 drubbing at St James' Park in October, and the Magpies have plenty to occupy their minds. Pardew said: "For me, the next game is our most important, and the cup has always been really good to me. "I have some fantastic memories and I know the momentum it can build. "I have played in this competition at every level and I know what it means to Stevenage, and if our application and preparation aren't the same, we are going to find ourselves on the wrong end of an upset. "The players are not immune from that and they understand that the focus needs to be right, otherwise we are going to be in trouble at Stevenage. "But also, we do have that massive game around the corner where the desire to keep the shirt must be there because any players in the squad would love to play in that game. It's a really big, big game." Strikers Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi have already been ruled out through injury with the former in particular battling against the clock to recover from a thigh problem in time for the short trip to the Stadium of Light. Goalkeeper Steve Harper will also be excused from duty tonight with his wife heavily pregnant, and Dutchman Tim Krul, who deputised so ably during the older man's absence with a shoulder injury, will take over once again. Leon Best, who marked his first Premier League start for the club with a hat-trick in Wednesday night's 5-0 demolition of West Ham, will hope to shake off a heel injury to retain his place as Pardew uses the depth of his squad. Asked if there would be a chance for his fringe players, the manager said: "Maybe, yes, although you could argue there are a few in the first team now staking their claims. "That's what you want when they come in. The team doesn't change much, the strength is the same, but the individuals do, and it's up to them to try to stay in the team."
