Eddie Howe rallies Newcastle fans ahead of Benfica clash at 'electric' St James' Park

After a 2-1 defeat at Brighton at the weekend left Newcastle 14th in the Premier League, Howe said European competition offers the perfect chance to lift spirits and regain momentum.

The Magpies were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in their opening group match, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice in the second half. However, they responded with a commanding 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in their second outing, leaving them with renewed confidence heading into a crucial home tie against the Portuguese giants.

Newcastle will be without Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Yoane Wissa, while midfielder Sandro Tonali remains a doubt due to fitness concerns. Despite those setbacks, Howe said he expects his side to rise to the occasion.

"We love these games," Howe said ahead of kick-off. "The Barcelona match could have gone either way, and that's been the story of a lot of our games this season. We've been competitive throughout.

"The atmosphere will be electric, I've got no doubt about that. I hope our performance mirrors the energy from the stands. If we're at our very best, we have a good chance."

Howe admitted the injuries have been frustrating but refused to use them as an excuse. "We've got three key players out at the moment, and that makes a big difference, but it's part of the game," he said.

"You have to be robust enough to cope and still find a way to win. A bit of illness with Sandro, so he will be touch and go for the game."

With Newcastle looking to build on their European momentum, Howe will be counting on the St James' Park faithful once again to act as their twelfth man.

READ MORE: Khanyisa Mayo, Pule Mmodi quash disallowed goal controversy