Woltemade had scored what proved to be decisive aim within the 1-0 win towards Wolves on the weekend earlier than coming off with cramp on his debut.

So, with striker Yoane Wissa sidelined with a knee harm, Gordon acquired the nod to guide the road.

And Howe refused to dwell on his choice to not begin the towering Woltemade on Thursday evening.

“I am unable to stay in that world,” he mentioned. “I’ve to make choices for the good thing about the gamers generally.

“It was a very tough one for Nick. Any participant would need to begin the sport, however I’ve acquired to attempt to handle him into the group and take a look at and ensure he stays match. That was all the time on the coronary heart of this choice.”

Howe, because of this, recalled Gordon, who’s at the moment serving a three-match home ban.

The fast Anthony Elanga additionally got here into the facet instead of Jacob Murphy, who’s nursing an Achilles problem, in a bid to attempt to exploit the house behind Barcelona’s excessive line.

Elanga and Gordon very practically linked up within the opening phases.

Nonetheless, Gordon couldn’t join with Elanga’s pullback earlier than Harvey Barnes noticed a curling effort comfortably saved by goalkeeper Joan Garcia just some minutes later.

Barnes then had an enormous alternative to open the scoring halfway by means of the primary half after the energetic Elanga slid the ball throughout to the again submit however the ahead may solely hearth straight at Garcia.

It introduced again recollections of the opening weeks of the season, when Newcastle fired blanks towards Aston Villa and Leeds United.

No surprise Howe had his palms on his head on the touchline at one level.

In a sport like this, Newcastle needed to be ruthless in entrance of aim – simply as they had been in a 4-1 win towards PSG a few a years in the past.

To prosper on this competitors, they’re going to need to be scientific.

Beginning with the journey to Brussels to face Union Saint-Gilloise subsequent month.

“There was no missing when it comes to coronary heart and braveness,” Howe mentioned. “We could be vital of a few issues we may have carried out higher however, in the end, we are going to analyse it, attempt to enhance and attempt to develop from this expertise.”