The match against West Ham will also see the return of former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, who is expected to feature in the line-up. Howe acknowledged Wilson's quality and expressed his enthusiasm for the reunion, but emphasized that the team's primary focus is on stopping him.

Howe also praised West Ham's attacking prowess, highlighting the need for a strong defensive structure and limited space for their opponents. He noted that Newcastle's away form has been a concern, but is looking to improve it against West Ham.

Regarding summer signing Nick Woltemade, Howe was positive about the German center-forward's performance, citing his goal-scoring ability and strong team ethic. However, he emphasized that it's early days for Woltemade and that consistency and long-term success are the next challenges for the player.

Howe also provided an update on summer signing Yoane Wissa, stating that he is not yet ready to return to the team due to a knee injury suffered in August and is not close to full training.

In other news, Newcastle has been drawn against Fulham in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals, a match that will be played at home. Howe expressed his preference for a home tie and acknowledged the difficulty of the game, given the narrow victory against Fulham in the previous match.