Championship side Blackburn Rovers host a wounded Newcastle United in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night.

The former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson parted ways with Blackburn at the start of February after reportedly losing faith in the financial commitment of the club’s controversial owners. John Eustace, Tomasson’s replacement, is yet to oversee a victory for Rovers in four games.

Eddie Howe can have no complaints about the economic might of Newcastle’s backers but there is no straight line between pounds and points. The Newcastle boss glumly concluded his side had been “off in most aspects of our game” during a 4-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Saturday.

Here’s everything you need to know about two teams searching for some respite in the form of cup football.

Ryan Hedges limped off 15 minutes into Blackburn’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday after aggravating a tight groin. The Welsh wide man had missed four months with a severe hamstring injury and could face another spell on the sidelines.

John Fleck (calf) and Joe Rankin-Costello (leg) will be in the treatment room to keep Hedges company until at least mid-March while Hayden Carter is expected back from a hamstring issue in April.

Blackburn predicted lineup vs Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Pears; Hyam, Wharton, McFadzean; Brittain, Tronstad, Buckley, Pickering; Dolan, Gallagher; Szmodics.

Howe was forced into giving Loris Karius his first Premier League start in almost six years on Saturday after Martin Dubravka was sidelined through illness. First-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope is still some way short of full fitness after dislocating his shoulder and it remains to be seen whether Dubravka can recover by Tuesday.

Callum Wilson (chest) and Joelinton (thigh) may not feature at all for the remainder of the campaign. Elliot Anderson has been hampered by a nagging back problem throughout the season while Matt Targett is still sidelined with a hamstring issue.

Sandro Tonali, of course, will not be back from his betting ban until August.

Newcastle predicted lineup vs Blackburn (4-3-3): Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento; Willock, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Barnes.

Goals could be on offer at Ewood Park. Blackburn have kept just one clean at home all season while Newcastle have shipped 12 in four games at any venue this month.

After recording the joint-best defensive record in the division last season, Howe’s Magpies have reverted to the swashbuckling days of Kevin Keegan. In fact, this iteration of Newcastle has already conceded more goals than the club’s infamously open ‘Entertainers’ and are also on course to outscore their vaunted predecessors.

Newcastle, however chaotic, should be able to come out on the right side of this contest if Howe fields a strong team. With European qualification distant and no other competition to prioritise, there would be little reason for rotation.