The personnel may be quite different from the last time they were turned over at Glanford Park, but for Newcastle United, the thought of another defeat at Scunthorpe United is unthinkable.

The management has changed, players have come and, more so, gone, but in a competition which presents the Magpies with one of few opportunities of lifting a trophy, the failure to accept defeat remains as strong as ever, especially among fans to whom football is more religion than a passion.

Since Martyn Woolford’s memorable double made him the talk of the Toon in the Iron’s famous 2-1 Championship success against Chris Hughton’s side nearly two years ago, the two clubs have moved in completely different directions.

The Magpies went on to win the second tier title that same season, while after prolonging their stay at that level for another 12 months, Scunthorpe eventually slipped back into League One.

Two divisions may now separate the duo, but Newcastle have seen first hand what happens when you underestimate the underdog.

And after crashing out of last season’s FA Cup at Stevenage while his Magpies reign was in its infancy, Alan Pardew is more cautious than most.

While keen to maintain ‘momentum’ on the back of his side’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season, Pardew has confirmed he will make changes to his starting line-up tonight.

Squad players like Steve Harper and Mike Williamson are certain to get a run out.

And alongside their experience, expect Academy products including Sammy Ameobi – brother of Magpies heavyweight Shola and one-time Iron loanee Tomi – and Shane Ferguson to get the chance to prove their quality.

For those yet to graduate in the school of first-team football, Glanford Park’s tight surroundings and basic dressing rooms are about as far away from the pomp and splendour of the Premier League as it gets in competitive action.

Yet the man who has helped nurture Toon’s teenage talent for the past five years says there is no danger any of the Magpies’ purposeful young professionals will be intimidated by a trip into the unknown.

“There’ll be a crackling atmosphere, but the players are professional,” said Joe Joyce, the former Scunthorpe United skipper who now heads up Newcastle’s highly-rated Academy set-up.

“They have these things to deal with throughout their career, whether it’s the 60,000 stadiums you’re playing in or the tight, compact stadiums with a lot fewer fans.

“They’re geared up to that so it’s nothing that’s going to faze them. They know they’ve just got to go out on to the pitch and perform.

“Take Sammy Ameobi for example, his debut was away at Chelsea at the end of last season.

“There’s no bigger first game than that, but at the same time he’s played in County Cup ties at Blyth Spartans and Ashington, so even at his tender age he’s had a broad experience.

“First-team football at any level is very, very tough and they have to be able to adapt to that.”

Right back to his playing days at United, Joyce, 50, had an insight into the importance of youth.

He arrived at Glanford Park from Barnsley in the wake of young defender Neil Cox’s £300,000 switch to Aston Villa – a bumper payday at the time – and went on to play 91 times for the Iron, including captaining the club at Wembley in the 1992 Fourth Division play-off final.

Although seen by numerous top flight clubs as a competition in which to rest their biggest names, Joyce says no-one connected with his side will be taking the Carling Cup lightly – tonight or anywhere else.

“Some clubs use it to blood young players, others see it as a means of getting a trophy,” said Joyce on the Carling Cup.

“It’s a very important competition to Newcastle.

“On Tuesday night four Premier League clubs went out, and regardless of what team is playing, it’s never good for a Premier League club to go out at such an early stage.

“A very strong squad will travel down to Scunthorpe, but obviously the manager has his thoughts on who will start.

“It is an opportunity for some of the younger players to be on the bench and possibly get a little bit of action.”

Joyce will hope to see that happen for several of his former proteges tonight, though Academy duties dictate that will be via Sky TV rather than in person at his old stomping ground.

As well as deciding on coaching programmes for the whole set-up, the former Carlisle defender is currently back on the training ground, in charge of the Magpies’ Under-18s while the process of appointing a new manager is carried out.

It is a hands-on role which he says provides an immense amount of pride.

“The current crop of players around the first team were more or less the first group of players I was working with here, people like Ameobi and Shane Ferguson,” he said.

“They are the ones who put the hard work in and take on board the information that has been given to them.

“But there’s no greater reward I don’t think than seeing young players progress and hopefully get into the first team.”