Newcastle United continue their Champions League campaign as Portuguese giants Benfica come to town.

Despite only picking up two victories in the Premier League all season so far, the Magpies did at least manage to entertain their die-hard fans last time out on Europe's grandest stage.

Eddie Howe's men went away to reigning Belgian Pro League champions Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and hammered the hosts 4-0.

They are winless on their own patch in the illustrious competition, however, as a Marcus Rashford-led effort ensured Barcelona travelled to Tyneside to collect a 2-1 win in mid-September.

Still, with Nick Woltemade finding the back of the net for fun at the moment, with the German actually in on the act in Belgium, too, it could be another game to remember for the 6-foot-6 menace against Benfica.

It's safe to say memories of Alexander Isak are long gone now.

How Woltemade compares to Alexander Isak this season

Even while Newcastle haven't been at their best so far this season, Woltemade has continually stood out as a thorn in the side for opposition defenders to thwart.

Indeed, the German attacker already has five goals next to his name for the Magpies from just eight appearances, with his strike last time in the Champions League for Howe's men - which got the ball rolling against David Hubert's side - coming about from just 42 touches of the ball.

He was instinctive once more for his new outfit against Brighton and Hove Albion, with a cleverly executed back-heel beating Bart Verbruggen in the Seagulls net, after the lethal number 27 had only amassed 31 touches across his 90 minute spell.

With a goalscoring frequency of every 99 minutes next to his name in the top-flight, it's clear that Howe will be relying on Woltemade to unnerve Benfica under the St James' Park floodlights later on, having already lived up to his tag of being an "absolutely ridiculous" finisher that he was previously handed to him by journalist Zach Lowy.

The towering centre forward is already emulating some of the greatest finishers the Toon have ever had and after fearing for their future without Isak in the summer, they now could care less that he was playing for Liverpool. After all, the German is streets ahead of Newcastle's once much-loved striker.

Positive signs indeed, and to get more from his big summer arrival, Howe could be tempted to tinker with his wide options this week.

How Newcastle could make Woltemade even better

While Woltemade was a nuisance for the Seagulls to contain, the same can't be said for his attacking teammate in Anthony Elanga.

He remains without a goal or assist at Newcastle, since securing a £55m move to the club this summer from Nottingham Forest.

Howe was so disappointed by his forgettable showing on the South Coast that he was hauled off at the half-time interval, with the usually quick and hard-to-read winger failing to complete a single successful dribble from his minimal 20 touches of the ball.

In his place could come Jacob Murphy, who Woltemade would surely love lining up alongside if the experienced 30-year-old's link-up play with ex-striker Isak is anything to read into.

Amazingly, 11 of Isak's 62 strikes for the Toon came about from a Murphy assist, with journalist Lee Ryder just last season going out of his way to hail the number 23's work alongside the Swede as "incredible", when the pair combined for a goal against Ipswich Town.

To further back up the argument, Murphy also has an assist next to his name in the Champions League this season - which bumped his assist haul for the club in total to a sizeable 36 assists - with a late cameo against Barcelona seeing him combine with Anthony Gordon for a consolation effort.

He might not be as flashy or as direct as Elanga can be, but Howe and Co know where they stand with Murphy and what can he offer, having once been noted as being an "unsung hero" by journalist Scott Wilson for how he slips under the radar.

He will want to be front and centre of a confidence-boosting victory, however, if he is selected, with Woltemade also no doubt ready to lurk in the danger areas again to power home an effort put on a plate for him by his seasoned teammate.