Howe speaks ahead of big 'test' at Bournemouth | OneFootball

The Magpies were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League opener on Thursday night, and now face a trip to the South Coast to play a side who have won three of their four Premier League games so far this term.

It's a quick turnaround for Howe's men following their midweek setback against the Catalan giants, and the head coach believes facing a dangerous Cherries outfit on their own patch will be a stern examination of his charges' capabilities as they look to balance quests for success in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Here are some of the key talking points from Howe's pre-match media briefing as he gets set to return to his former club:

On the task of managing back-to-back Champions League and Premier League fixtures, after a season away from European competition...

"The process is the same really. I don't know if there are any massive learnings to take from that. Of course I think the biggest thing is I think it's a psychological issue rather than a physical issue. It's the big high of (the Barcelona game) - a big experience for the players, another big, emotional game - then the big comedown, then you've got to go to Bournemouth, which is a really tough away game, even with a week to prepare.

"I think that's the challenge we face, and every European team goes through the same experiences, and that's why these campaigns are more difficult in the Premier League for us. This will be the first test of that this season, and hopefully we can rise to it."

On Yoane Wissa's fitness...

"It is impactful. Of course everyone wanted Yoane to be fit. There's nothing personally I would have done different - we did everything we did as a football club to try and look after Yoane. But it's like with any footballer - when they go away on international duty, you're not in control of the minutes they play, and unfortunately he got injured.

"Now we just have to deal the best we can with that situation. We think he'll be out until the next international break. He's got a race on to be fit for that Brighton game. Hopefully he can make it, and then of course he'll be such an important player for us."

On Nick Woltemade's start to life on Tyneside...

"We're going to have to look after Nick, as I said, and it's hard enough for him to come into a new league - you can see the physical effects he felt (against) Wolves - and the quick turnaround in games here.

"There's no guarantee, even by managing him, that he's going to stay fit and play all the games, but we're going to try and give him the best chance to stay fit, and also acclimatise to the league he's in.

"But he's made a very good start - I thought he did well when he came on (against Barcelona), and he was involved in the goal. Hopefully he'll be in a good place."

On Anthony Elanga...

"I thought he did well. He was an absolute threat in the game. He's put in a lovely cross for Anthony Gordon to have that chance early in the game. I think you could see his strengths - his pace, his direct running. I thought defensively and off the ball he was fine, and he's acclimatising to that role that we ask him to do, so I'm very pleased with him.

"I think he's going to be a very, very useful player for us this season, and certainly I think he's made an impressive start and there's a lot more to come."