After a second consecutive Champions League win, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has praised his side and called one star a ‘unique player’.
The Magpies defeated Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 3-0 at home, bouncing back from defeat at Brighton last weekend.
Striker Nick Woltemade did not get on the scoresheet tonight but he still earned the praise of his manager. Howe insisted: “I think we keep saying the same thing about Nick, he’s a unique player.
“And those types of flicks and touches, that’s not coached, that’s instinctive.
“We saw that before we signed him, we knew he was very good around the box. He was very creative for other players.
“It’s great to see us score off the back of one of them, and I thought that was a great goal.”
Although Woltemade failed to record either a goal or assist for the first time in five Newcastle matches, there was an assist from an unexpected source.
“It’s a thing of beauty,” Howe said of goalkeeper Nick Pope’s assist. “We needed that second goal.
“We’ve been working on, not necessarily that throw with Nick, but certain parts of his distribution to make us more efficient. Distribution of goalkeepers these days is so important.
“But that was a spontaneous moment and Harvey finished it brilliantly. So, delighted for both players.”
On the match as a whole, Newcastle’s boss reflected: “Yeah, good performance. I thought it was an even first half, really. I thought we created some good chances.
“Had to be patient for that first goal. When it came, I thought we scored three great goals today, actually. I thought we looked a constant threat in the game.
“But we had some moments where we had to defend well and they were a threat from their set pieces as well. So, delighted with the win. It’s a massive, massive result.”