What a contrast to the feeling just a few days earlier at the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n
Newcastle<\/a> players and staff recognised they won’t truly be able to make amends for that damaging derby defeat against Sunderland<\/a> until they meet their bitter rivals again in the reverse fixture in March.<\/p>\n But going out of the cup as holders on home soil would have been unthinkable after such a painful loss.<\/p>\n “The training ground has been a sombre place,” Howe said. “We fully recognise what we did in the last game and what that left with the people of Newcastle<\/a>. We had to live with that. I’m not going to lie.”<\/p>\n Howe, tellingly, made six changes to freshen up his side for the visit of Fulham<\/a> as Wissa was handed his first start since completing his protracted \u00a355m move from Brentford<\/a>, having recovered from a knee injury.<\/p>\n You could sense the DR Congo forward was in the mood, smiling as he walked out, and it only took him 10 minutes to open his account.<\/p>\n Fabian Schar picked out Jacob Murphy out on the right with a raking crossfield pass and the winger hit a first-time ball across, knowing Wissa would be there.<\/p>\n Although Fulham<\/a> goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte got a hand to the cross, he palmed the ball into the path of Wissa, who could not miss.<\/p>\n It was a glimpse of the poacher’s instincts Wissa will bring to Newcastle<\/a>. <\/p>\n Wissa did not look content, however, not least after Lukic’s leveller.<\/p>\n He was not afraid to throw his arms up and scream at his team-mates if they failed to pick him out quickly. <\/p>\n He earned a huge roar after getting back to make a crunching tackle on Emile Smith Rowe at one point.<\/p>\n He was handed a standing ovation when he was replaced by Nick Woltemade.<\/p>\n Although Wissa is not 100% fit yet, clearly, he will help ease the burden on Woltemade, who endured a sobering afternoon against Sunderland<\/a>, heading the ball into his own net for the game’s only goal.<\/p>\n He will also give Newcastle<\/a> something different with his pace and movement.<\/p>\n