Carabao Cup: Newcastle in the hat for tonight's third round draw on Sky at 10.15 p.m.

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup is due to take place at around 10.15 p.m. BST this evening (Wednesday the 30th of August), following the conclusion of Doncaster Rovers versus Everton on Sky Sports Main Event.

Finalists last season, Newcastle United are entering the competition a round later than usual, due to their participation in this season's UEFA Champions League. The Magpies have been assigned ball number 20.

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and West Ham United are also entering the Carabao Cup at this stage, with 32 sides to be drawn this evening.

Ties in the third round are due to be played in the week commencing Monday the 25th of September, which falls between our trip to play Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and Burnley's visit to St. James' Park.

Tonight's draw will have no seedings and the north/south divide from rounds one and two is not in play here either. Following last night's 19 matches in the competition, here's the complete list of teams in the hat, pending the completion of this evening's five fixtures:

Premier League

• Arsenal (2)
• Aston Villa (3)
• Bournemouth (1)
• Brentford (5)
• Brighton & Hove Albion (6)
• Crystal Palace (8)
• Fulham (10)
• Liverpool (13)
• Luton Town (14)
• Manchester City (15)
• Manchester United (16)
• Newcastle United (20)
• West Ham United (26)
• Wolverhampton Wanderers (27)

• Cardiff City (7)
• Ipswich Town (11)
• Leicester City (12)
• Middlesbrough (18)
  
• Norwich City (19)
• Stoke City (24)

• Exeter City (9)
• Peterborough United (21)
• Port Vale (22)

• Bradford City (4)
• Mansfield Town (17)
• Salford City (23)
• Sutton United (25)

• Chelsea or AFC Wimbledon (28)
  
• Doncaster Rovers or Everton (29)
• Harrogate Town or Blackburn Rovers (30)
• Nottingham Forest or Burnley (31)
• Sheffield United or Lincoln City (32)

We usually hope for a Tyne–Wear derby at St. James' Park in the early stages of domestic cup competitions, but Sunderland lost at home on penalties to Crewe Alexandra in the first round so there's no chance of that happening here.

It's now been 44 years since we played the Mackems in a cup, which brings to mind a bit of Very Lynn: "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day."

Without that mouthwatering prospect, we'll take anyone at home to give as many supporters as possible the chance to see Eddie Howe's side in competitive action and for the best chance of progression. Let's see if we can go one better this time out.