What a contrast to the feeling just a few days earlier at the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle players and staff recognised they won’t truly be able to make amends for that damaging derby defeat against Sunderland until they meet their bitter rivals again in the reverse fixture in March.
But going out of the cup as holders on home soil would have been unthinkable after such a painful loss.
“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. We had to live with that. I’m not going to lie.”
Howe, tellingly, made six changes to freshen up his side for the visit of Fulham as Wissa was handed his first start since completing his protracted £55m move from Brentford, having recovered from a knee injury.
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.
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.
Although Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte got a hand to the cross, he palmed the ball into the path of Wissa, who could not miss.
It was a glimpse of the poacher’s instincts Wissa will bring to Newcastle.
Wissa did not look content, however, not least after Lukic’s leveller.
He was not afraid to throw his arms up and scream at his team-mates if they failed to pick him out quickly.
He earned a huge roar after getting back to make a crunching tackle on Emile Smith Rowe at one point.
He was handed a standing ovation when he was replaced by Nick Woltemade.
Although Wissa is not 100% fit yet, clearly, he will help ease the burden on Woltemade, who endured a sobering afternoon against Sunderland, heading the ball into his own net for the game’s only goal.
He will also give Newcastle something different with his pace and movement.
“I’ve been here and knew it was special,” Wissa told Sky Sports. “Now playing with the Newcastle shirt, it is different. Very happy today.
“Winning a cup is special. They did it last year when I wasn’t there, so now I want to do it.”