The Magpies head to the London Stadium just three days on from Sunday's superb 2-0 win over Manchester United at St. James' Park - a performance Howe says meant there were still "a few tired bodies" in his squad on Tuesday morning.

With three away games in quick succession coming up, starting with the midweek clash in the capital, the United head coach is eyeing a repeat of the intensity his charges showed as they eased past Erik ten Hag's men at the weekend.

Here are some of the main talking points from Howe's pre-match media briefing at Newcastle's Benton training centre:

On fitness concerns in his squad and David Moyes' West Ham, who beat Southampton last time out...

"I think we're reasonably OK. There's a few tired bodies in the squad - it was a really big physical effort for us in the game. But hopefully nothing too major.

"We need to deliver that (again). I think it's going to be a really difficult game. West Ham are a very good team who have had a slightly different season with Europe and all the games they've played.

"They've got an outstanding manager with vast experience and I thought they recruited really well in the summer last year. They've got a very strong squad. We're going to need another physical performance and another good technical and tactical performance."

On the prospect of three successive away games, against the Hammers, Brentford and Aston Villa...

"The three away games is an interesting dynamic for us. I think we've been there before. We love playing at home and our results at home have been good, but I think our results on the road have been pretty consistent as well so we're going to need to take points in this spell. We know what's ahead."

On Allan Saint-Maximin's influential input against the Red Devils on Sunday...

"I thought he gave a really good all-round performance really. Let's start with the ball - he's a natural dribbler, he wants to dribble with the ball, I think everyone knows that. But I thought his decision making on when to dribble and when to pass was very good.

"He got an assist, so his end product was there in his game, and defensively he was diligent - he recovered back in and he performed well for the team, so I'm delighted with him personally."

On Callum Wilson, who came off the bench to net the Magpies' second goal against Manchester United...

"It's important for Callum that he scores. I saw Callum during the international break really put in a really good shift to get himself back to his best condition. He worked really hard on the training pitch and trained really well, so I had no hesitation in backing him and knowing that the goals will come, because he's got that experience.

"His goal was a typical Callum goal - really good movement in the box, used his experience, got a yard of space and finished it well."

On having both of his centre forwards, Wilson and Alexander Isak, fit and available for selection...

"I think we need them both fit and we haven't had that luxury on many occasions this season.

"They're both very different but they're both hugely important to us, and you need goalscorers and as many as you can get. That gives us real strength in depth."