Eddie Howe has promised his Newcastle United side will “give it everything” as they prepare to take on Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in a “defining moment” for the Magpies’ Champions League hopes.
Newcastle must avoid defeat at the Parc des Princes to keep their chances of reaching the last 16 alive, currently bottom of Group F with just one win from their four matches.
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That sole victory did come against PSG, though, romping the French giants 4-1 back in October, and Howe says Newcastle will throw everything at Luis Enrique’s men again as they fight for what could be a pivotal three points on Tuesday.
“We need to play on the edge,” Howe told reporters at his pre-match news conference. “Every team is at their best when they have that different emotion running through them.
“We need every ounce of motivation and energy to get a result here. This is a defining moment in our campaign. We’re going to give it everything.”
#UCL prep at the Parc des Princes. ???? pic.twitter.com/kG7vsGdAQb
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 27, 2023
Newcastle earned a rampant 4-1 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, managing to win despite being ravaged by injuries, with key players such as Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Callum Wilson among those in the treatment room.
Howe believes the Chelsea win was vital for his team’s morale, saying: “The mood of the group is very good, especially after the weekend because that was a pivotal result for us [against Chelsea].
“It’s very easy to feel sorry for yourselves and focus on the lads that aren’t with us, but they did really well to blank that out and just perform.”
17-year-old Lewis Miley has been one of those to profit from the injury crisis, grabbing an assist on his Premier League home debut against Chelsea, and he could again get the nod on Tuesday.
Howe feels Miley is “ready” to start against PSG if needed, explaining: “He was the exact same Lewis after the [Chelsea] game. It was just another game for him. He’s got a great temperament for these occasions.”
