Eddie Howe 'looking forward' to welcoming back former Newcastle United figure in January

Newcastle United were present in Monday nights FA Cup third round draw, luck was on their side that night.

At this stage the FA Cup feels incredibly unpredictable. You can draw another Premier League team or you could get a really tasty draw with a Football and National League team.

For Newcastle, it's the latter. They've avoided a heavy hitter by drawing League Two side Bromley. A newly promoted side based in Greater London.

It's a home tie, something The Magpies didn't get at all in the competition last season. Although it seems insignificant, the draw against Bromley is somewhat special for Newcastle with a former member of the coaching team will be set for an emotional return to St James' Park.

Image: Keith Gillard

Eddie Howe looking forward to welcoming former Newcastle United coach Andy Woodman back to Tyneside.

Andy Woodman, now manager of Bromley will be back on Tyneside in January after his side drew Newcastle in the FA Cup third round.

He spent four-and-a-half years at Newcastle alongside manager Alan Pardew and was one of the brigade who famously signed an eight-year contract in 2012.

Woodman is the father of former Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie who now plays for Championship side Preston North End.

On the draw, Howe said: "I was watching the draw yesterday and naturally, like every Newcastle fan, I'm hoping for a home draw and we got that which has been in rare supply for us over the last couple of seasons - so it was great to see.

"I think there's a nice link back there to Newcastle. So that'll be a great occasion, but we'll look forward to that when it comes around."

Newcastle United's troublesome recent history in the FA Cup

The Magpies enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup least season. Their marked improvement on the previous three years.

In the 2020/21 season, Steve Bruce managed Newcastle were knocked out in the third round by Arsenal after extra-time in a disappointing collapse.

In Howe's first FA Cup campaign with Newcastle they were embarrassed by League One side Cambridge at home before further embarrassment to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough the season after.

Howe will be keen to hit the ground running in the competition with an easier draw this time round. A win for Bromley would be up there as one of the best in their history.