And the head coach's considerations were further complicated after Bruno Guimaraes became the latest Newcastle star to pick up the illness that has been spreading around the camp in the last couple of weeks, forcing the captain to train alone on Tuesday.

Howe, his coaching staff and the players went through some detailed and what Dan Burn described as "very painful" analysis into what went wrong after the dreadful showing in the 3-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday.

And while Howe insists it's now time for Newcastle to put that performance and loss behind them, the head coach must decide whether he rings the changes for Athletic Club or gives the players who featured at the London Stadium the chance to make amends.

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"I'll always consider the team selection in great detail," said Howe ahead of Newcastle's third home Champions League game of the campaign so far.

"I never set out to make a statement, I just set out a team to win the next game, that's the only statement we need to make.

"That's what I'll try and do on this occasion....