'This season has been a huge success so far'

The Athletic's Chris Waugh believes that despite it being a campaign of "highs and lows" so far, Newcastle are "doing very well" considering the injuries and suspensions that have impacted their squad.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe did not make any substitutions in Tuesday's Champions League draw with Paris St-Germain because of the lack of options available to him - including record signing Sandro Tonali, who is suspended for the rest of the season for betting-related offences.

"It's very interesting when you look at this season for Newcastle because at the moment it feels vey much like highs and lows," Waugh told the Total: Sport Newcastle United podcast.

"The international break felt like a huge low because they went to Dortmund and lost and basically fell off a cliff when they went to Bournemouth. They had so many injuries it just felt like 'where do they go from here?'.

"Then, they beat Chelsea in a wonderful performance and they nearly win at PSG. We have to remember - despite all the injuries and everything that's going on - for Newcastle to still be alive in every competition they are in shows they are doing very, very well this season.

"We can become a little bit blinkered and have recency bias but if you look at everything as a whole this season has been a huge success so far."

Listen to the Total Sport: Newcastle United podcast on BBC Sounds