Steve Bruce has urged Newcastle United to soothe their Carabao Cup disappointment with a Premier League victory over Watford to complete a "wonderful" start to his reign.

The Magpies bowed out of the season's first domestic cup competition on Wednesday as Leicester won a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at St James' Park, with the Magpies' injury list having grown significantly in the process.

Coming three days after a creditable 1-0 win at Tottenham, that represented a disappointment for a head coach who had vowed to target the cups this season, but back-to-back league victories would put a smile back on his face.

Bruce said: "If we can get to six points, that will be a wonderful start for us. That's been my aim.

"The players, since I walked through the door - apart from a horrible performance at Norwich - have tuned into what we're trying to do.

"As I said, defensively we look rock-solid. We have got to still improve offensively with the ball, but hopefully that will come."