Sawt Falasteen - Howe aims for 'unity' after unwanted January sales at Newcastle

Defender Lloyd Kelly has moved to Juventus on loan, with an obligation to buy, while Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron has rejoined MLS outfit Atlanta United.

The departures follow the exits of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh during the summer transfer window as Newcastle juggle their resources to comply with Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs).

Howe's team host Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday protecting a 2-0 lead as they look to move a step closer to winning their first silverware since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

The Newcastle boss told his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that he had been reluctant to lose Kelly, whose sale followed that of Almiron last week.

Howe said the transfer window, which closed on Monday, had been more about "trying to not weaken the squad to a point where the team's affected".

"We're in a world, and we have been this window, of trying to manage PSR and trying to make decisions that benefit us in the long-term and this is one of those decisions," he said.

"The squad now is lighter in numbers but high in quality so I think for us, managing injuries will be a big part of what we do now in this part of the season coming up.

"There's still no reason why we can't be successful but hopefully the future looks a little bit brighter for us."

Howe, seeking to reach his second League Cup final in three seasons, said the process could even help galvanise his men.

"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. We keep fighting in every phase and sometimes that unity can be really, really powerful," he said.

"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 lost against Fulham at the weekend but have won 10 of their past 12 games in all competitions, while Arsenal hammered Premier League champions Manchester City 5-1.

Howe, who could have striker Callum Wilson available after a lengthy absence, said: "What a great opportunity we've got -- and that's if it's 0-0 -- so forget any talk of a lead, it's 0-0 and we are at home.

"What an opportunity to attack the game and embrace everything in front of us to be at our best."

L.Hussein--SF-PST