HOWE THE HELL?

Toon boss Eddie is up against it again as CL draw adds to woes

- BY CHRIS MCKENNA

EDDIE HOWE has had the summer from hell trying to land a striker and dealing with Alexander Isak’s want to quit the club for Liverpool.

But if the Newcastle boss thought he might get some reprieve with a favourable Champions League draw then he was given a rude awakening last night.

The Magpies are back in the big time after their fifth-placed Premier League finish last season.

But, after they finished bottom of their Champions League group the last time they were in the competition, they were dealt a horror draw for the league phase this season.

Howe's side will host Barcelona, Benfica, PSV and Athletic Bilbao but face daunting away trips to Paris St-Germain, Erik ten Hag's Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille, with their most favourable fixture a trip to Belgium to take on Union SG.