DRAW GIVES TOON BIGGER ED ACHES

No respite for Howe after Isak saga as Champions League selection gives Newcastle incredibly tough run of games

- 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 finish last season in the Premier League.

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 while face daunting away trips to Paris Saint-Germain, Erik ten Hag's Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille with their most favourable fixture a trip to Belgium to take on Union SG.