Inconsistency has plagued Newcastle in the early stages of the campaign, with Howe's side having won one and lost one in the Champions League and won two, drawn three and lost three in the Premier League.
Howe felt Newcastle's display in Saturday's defeat at Brighton was "mixed", which sums up the early weeks of the season, but he's delighted his side get the action to get back on track so soon, though United could be without Sandro Tonali in Tuesday night's Champions League encounter because of illness. The midfielder didn't train on Monday.
Asked for his verdict on the season so far, Howe said: "Frustrating is the feeling, I think, because we're so close to being something more and getting better results than we have.
"I think the team performances have been strong. I think we've been very good defensively, although there was a couple of lapses against Brighton, that's all it was, that we got punished for. And we're working so hard to try and create chances.
"You make your own luck and you can only turn things your own way by doing the right things continually. I don't think we're far away and we've just got to keep to our beliefs."
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After the dramatic summer transfer window which saw Alexander Isak eventually leave and Nick Woltemade arrive alongside Yoane Wissa - who hasn't yet turned out in black and white - Howe was asked whether this could be a reluctant season of transition.
He said: "I think whenever you bring players in and you lose players, that in a sense brings the word transition because you're losing players and you're adding players to your squad.
"Hopefully, we've got the balance right between not losing our identity, not losing how we play. And I don't think we have.
"When you look at us play, you can clearly see a Newcastle team, or what we're trying to do. The effort is there, the commitment is there. Sometimes we haven't played with enough quality, that was evident against Brighton, but as long as we see the heart and endeavour and the attitude that we've always seen for the last four years, we'll get consistent results again.
"There's no doubt when you lose key players, there is an element of finding a new way of doing things and getting attuned to the new players. And I do think there's an element of that in our performances, too."
Howe said Tonali is "touch and go" for Tuesday night's game, adding "We'll give him every opportunity. He wasn't there obviously at training today and he's such an important player. We'll use all the hours we have."
If Tonali misses out, either Lewis Miley or Jacob Ramsey will come into the side, with both having played in the Champions League in the past.
Howe said: "They have Champions League experience, but they're also very, very good players.
"We've got a really strong midfield this year. So, if one player is missing, it's an opportunity for a regular player to come in and take their chance."