'Massive': Chris Sutton now predicts who will win on Wednesday night - Newcastle United or Brentford

St James' Park will host Newcastle United's first Premier League game following their Carabao Cup success on Wednesday night as Brentford arrive for a 7:45pm kick-off.

While the fans have celebrated at Wembley and now in the city of Newcastle itself, all that's left is to roar the lads on the pitch for the first time since lifting the cup.

There are those who think that Newcastle's celebrations could prove to be a distraction for the remaining games of the season, but we believe it will have a positive effect.

Newcastle will be riding high and the players will be feeling invincible, and as good as Brentford have been this season, they could be in for a tough night on Wednesday.

Chris Sutton is predicting a convincing win for Newcastle

At least that's how the BBC's Chris Sutton sees things. The former strike partner of Alan Shearer can only see one outcome for Wednesday's game.

"Have Newcastle stopped celebrating yet? They have been on the lash for a long time after winning the Carabao Cup, culminating - for some of their fans anyway - with their trophy parade on Saturday. I am sure the players have sunk a few too.

"It showed how much the club's success means to the city, but now they have to focus on the rest of the season, because getting back into the Champions League would be massive for what comes next for Eddie Howe's side, and how they are viewed across Europe.

"There will be a fantastic atmosphere at this game too, but the danger with that is we know Brentford are capable of spoiling anyone's party with their attacking threat.

"Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has tried to address that, by speaking about the need to finish the campaign strongly, and this is a great example of where his side cannot afford to take their eye off the ball.

"I suspect they will come out of the traps very quickly against Brentford, lifted by the crowd, and go a couple of goals up before the weekend starts to take its toll on them and the fans too.

"Sutton's prediction: 3-1"

Newcastle hold the aces in the race for Champions League qualification

A big win would certainly send the right message to the doubters and stand the Magpies in good stead for that final push to grab Champions League football.

It's a tight race but Newcastle have the advantage of being just two points from fourth spot with a game in hand. With fifth set to also bestow its occupant with Champions League football, there's still a huge chance that Newcastle will snap up a spot in the elite tier of European competition.

We have the safety net of the Europa Conference League, but why settle?