Eddie Howe: Newcastle not laying out any mats for anybody ahead of PSG test

The Magpies resume their Champions League campaign on Wednesday evening, when Mbappe and his Paris St Germain team-mates head for St James' Park with three Group F points up for grabs.

Howe's men will head into the game depleted by injuries to key players, but confident of building upon a hard-fought 0-0 draw at AC Milan on their return to the competition after a 20-year absence.

Asked how he ensured his side did not lay out the welcome mat for France forward Mbappe, the 45-year-old said: "I certainly hope we're not laying out any mats for anybody.

"We're determined to try to do well, and one thing I'm absolutely certain about is the atmosphere will be as good as I've ever experienced here. I know the supporters will get behind us and then whatever we do from there will depend on what happens afterwards.

"But we're really looking forward to it, we're looking forward to the challenge that it will bring. I've already started my preparation for the game. It's going to be an extreme test, but one that we can't wait for."

Already without midfielder Joe Willock and winger Harvey Barnes, who was this week ruled out for at least three months with a foot injury, Howe faces going into the game without defender Sven Botman and striker Callum Wilson, who missed Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley, as well as midfielder Joelinton, who limped off just four minutes after being introduced as a substitute.

Nevertheless, Howe is confident a team which has put together a five-game unbeaten run since suffering defeats at the hands of Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, will more than compete.

He said: "I think if we can go into any of these Champions League games that we face in confident mood and good form and rhythm, then it gives us the best chance of being successful. We want to carry that as long as we can.

"I think we're in a good moment. Defensively, we're very good, and we look like we can score, we should have scored more today. I think the mood is very strong."

Miguel Almiron's first-half strike and a second-half penalty from Alexander Isak sec

ured the points against Burnley on a day when the scoreline did not fully reflect their dominance with a fifth yellow card of the season for Anthony Gordon a minor irritation.

The winless Clarets might have taken an early lead, keeper Nick Pope stopping Zeki Amdouni's fourth-minute attempt, but thereafter found the going tough to place even greater focus on Tuesday night's trip to Luton.

Manager Vincent Kompany said: "Against Luton, everybody knows, we just want to get a result.

"We think we can get results against Luton, we think we can get results in the future against teams like today."

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