Newcastle legend Rob Lee talks about trophy drought and scoring at Wembley

The Toon face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final as both clubs look to end their respective trophy droughts.

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For Newcastle, of course, the drought has been much longer, with Tyneside starved of success since 1969 when they lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

And the wait for domestic success has been even longer, with the Toon last winning the FA Cup in 1955.

And one man who came so close to achieving great things on Tyneside was Robert Lee.

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The midfielder was born in London but is very much an adopted Geordie after spending ten years at St James' Park from 1992 to 2002.

In that time, Lee made 303 appearances and scored 44 goals across all competitions and he is still a hero in Newcastle.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, Lee revealed just how excited he is for the final and how he hopes the trophy drought will end.

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"I really hope it does, just for the fans with all the stick they get about not winning anything for so long," he said. "They are the greatest fans around.

"When you go up there they get 50,000, even in the Championship, and now it's difficult to get tickets, so it's a great time to be a Newcastle player and fan.

"I just hope we get a trophy in the cabinet.

"[Kevin] Keegan always said to me the hardest trophy to get is the first one and that's what we found, and I just hope we get that first trophy done and dusted, and then, who knows what the club could do with these owners."

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Throughout our chat, Lee oozes positivity about his former club, which has been transformed since the arrival of Saudi Arabia's PIF, PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers in October 2021 and Eddie Howe as manager.

Newcastle were almost certain to be relegated last year after an awful start to the campaign that saw them win just one of their opening 20 league games.

But now the Magpies are sitting fifth in the Premier League table and in a cup final, and the 57-year-old knows what this game means to the people of Tyneside.

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"It's really difficult to put into words, but for Newcastle fans and players - winning that first trophy would be a big weight lifted off their shoulders.

"We thought we would do it and we always thought there would be another year and then another year and, eventually, you run out of years.

"When you are playing in these big games, they go so quick and sometimes they can pass you by.

"I hope Eddie reiterates to the players to enjoy the occasion and give their all because they don't want that [losing] feeling. You want to walk up the steps second and lift the trophy.

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"I don't care if the first one is the Carabao Cup - just win it and get that trophy home because there will be a huge party in Newcastle."

Lee played in two cup finals as a Newcastle player, captained the side and was the club's last man to score at Wembley in 2000.

The midfielder grabbed an equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea but the west Londoners went on to win 2-1.

The Toon have since played at the new Wembley, but only because Tottenham used it as their home ground for nearly two seasons while their new stadium was constructed.

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And Lee has urged the current Newcastle squad to enjoy the occasion and make sure they don't leave anything on the pitch.

"It's the best feeling in the world [playing at Wembley]. I am from a different era, but I always dreamt of playing at Wembley.

"The stadium was different then but it's still a great occasion.

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"They are in the final playing at Wembley and there's going to be tens of thousands of Geordies descending on Wembley - and it's a feeling that goes very quickly.

"It's over very quickly, so just take it in because I was lucky enough to play there a few times, but you are really looking forward to the day and then it's gone, so I would suggest they're all very excited, but just take it all in because it goes quick.

"You go there and you want to put on a good performance and you want to win because it's a horrible place to be when you lose - as I can vouch for a few times.

"There's no point in leaving anything on the pitch. Give it your all and win."

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Since Lee departed St James' Park and retired, Newcastle endured Mike Ashley's ownership.

In his 14 years as owner, the Toon were relegated twice, refused to take cup competitions seriously and the club became a shell of itself.

At one point, Ashley had to give 10,000 half-season tickets away for free just to ensure St James' was full!

But despite this, Lee still didn't believe it would take his old club this long to return to this iconic venue.

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"I always rib Alan Shearer about it because he's never scored for his hometown club at Wembley. It's one thing I've got over him, and he doesn't like it," Lee added.

"But I wouldn't have thought it would be this long. Back in the days of Keegan, Kenny [Dalglish] and Bobby [Sir Bobby Robson], we were getting there regularly and we expected that to continue.

"But we didn't see the way things were going to go with the ownership and the club.

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"But we are back now. The excitement's back. The feel-good factor is back with the new owners.

"Everyone is really excited, and hopefully, we will play the way we play and win the game."

Newcastle are also well in the race for the Champions League - although one win in their last seven league games has seen the Magpies drop out of the top four.

No one expected Newcastle to have started the season as well as they have, and they boast one of the best defensive records in Europe, conceding only 15 league goals.

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A Champions League finish would open up a new world of financial opportunities and transfer targets.

But Lee would rather see the trophy drought end than finish in the top four.

"I would want us to win the Carabao Cup - I am sure people will disagree and say the top four," he said.

"But I just think at this time, in this period of transition, winning a trophy would be better than getting in the Champions League and the fans would go mad.

"There are some people who love the Champions League. When we played in the Champions League, it was the top one and then the top two, now it's the top four and I am sure it will be five and then six.

"So, is it the Champions League? It's not really. It's the best competition and the most prestigious competition, but it's not really because it's not just the champions that are in it.

"The feeling of winning that trophy will be better than that feeling of getting in the Champions League."

Unfortunately, Newcastle will be without Nick Pope after he was sent off against Liverpool for handball outside the area and the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Pope has been an inspired signing from Burnley and has played a crucial role in Newcastle's progression to the final.

In the third-round tie against Crystal Palace, the England international saved three penalties in the shootout, which set the Magpies on their way.

However, he won't play any part this Sunday and neither will Martin Dubravka, as he is cup-tied, ironically because he played for Man United earlier this season.

So Loris Karius or Mark Gillespie will start in goal, but despite this, Lee is confident but is aware of Man United's threat.

The ex-Toon star said: "From the start of the season to where they are now, they are a totally different animal.

"They are winning most of their games. They've got players that can win games, and [Marcus] Rashford is in the form of his life.

"They are a danger and have got players that can hurt us, but so have we, and I look at both teams and think we've got the better team."

Newcastle will have Bruno Guimarares back after his three-game ban and the Brazilian is integral to Howe's style of play.

Guimaraes will certainly make a difference in the middle of the pitch but, no matter who plays, Lee wants them to know they will become heroes forever if they lift that trophy on Sunday.

"I hope these players realise that if they do win something - they will be loved forever in Newcastle," he added.

"There will be statues of them everywhere. Our team are still praised and we didn't win anything. Imagine if we do win something! It would be someplace to be for a few days."

And that message of positivity is one that now reverberates around Newcastle. Where there was once dread and apathy, there is now excitement and energy.

And no matter what happens in the final, Lee is confident Newcastle are on the way back to the top.

"We are way ahead of the curve. I don't even think they [the owners] would have envisaged being in the top five and the Carabao Cup final.

"It's a great start, but it takes time to get everything right but we are going in the right direction, and we are ahead of where we should be, and I am sure they've got a plan.

"But you can't stand still in the Premier League, you have to keep moving forward - and I am sure they will do that."

Newcastle have waited a long time for this moment and the people of Tyneside are desperate for silverware.

The Toon's trophy drought has to end at some point and Lee hopes Howe's men can break that curse.

It would mean more to Magpies fans than anyone could possibly imagine.

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