THE post-match toasts at St James’ Park were reserved for a previously injured England striker who had made a scoring return off the bench.

But unfortunately for Evertonians, Andrew Johnson’s first goal of the season was eclipsed by a Michael Owen header which proved to be the match-winner.

Johnson’s return to the goals was also tempered by news that he is now to undergo an operation on an injured ankle which, for the time being at least, denies him the chance to build up some momentum in the scoring charts as well as preventing him from adding to his derby tally at Goodison.

Last September, Johnson struck twice in front of his beloved home fans in his first game against Liverpool in the royal blue of Everton but with the former Crystal Palace man expected to go under the knife today, he is now set to miss the October 20 showdown against Rafael Benitez’s side.

Like many strikers, Johnson thrives on confidence and finding the back of the net for the first time since March will no doubt have provided a welcome boost.

A cult hero ever since he was swamped by jubilant Evertonians after his debut on a balmy July afternoon at Gigg Lane last year, Johnson has always enjoyed a special relationship with the club’s supporters but while a mutual affection remains strong, the goals had dried up since he struck the winner against Arsenal back in March.

And even this one proved to be all in vain –it levelled Nicky Butt’s first half strike but Emre and Owen struck late before Shay Given’s own goal proved scant consolation.

Hence, for the second time in four days, Everton were involved in a five-goal thriller – but this time the final scoreline went the other way and any good fortune they had in the UEFA Cup deserted them on their Premier League return.

Thursday’s victory in the Ukraine could prove to be a massive turning point in Everton’s fortunes and the long-term aspirations of the club – at least the unthinkable concept of another first round exit has been avoided – but now that David Moyes’s side have earned themselves games against at least another four continental clubs this campaign, they now need to ensure they can cope with the all-important Premier League fixtures that follow their UEFA Cup exploits to safeguard their hopes of returning to Europe next season.

Numbers wise, Everton still possess one of the top-flight’s smaller squads and Moyes has to carefully shuffle his pack after taxing trips, with this game at St James’ Park coming less than 60 hours after his squad landed at John Lennon Airport.

The manager made four changes to the side that started in Thursday’s 3-2 victory at Metalist Kharkiv.

Tony Hibbert and Leighton Baines were restored at right and left-back respectively, Lee Carsley returned in central midfield and match-winner Victor Anichebe came in up front.

Phil Neville moved from right-back to central midfield and Joleon Lescott from left-back to centre-back, the two positions they have occupied for the majority of the season to date.

Dropping to the bench were Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and Ayegbeni Yakubu. Alan Stubbs was not included in the squad while Andrew Johnson was named as a substitute after missing the UEFA Cup first round second leg match through injury.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce made three changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Manchester City eight days earlier with Jose Enrique and Abdoulaye Faye replacing David Rozenhal and Steven Taylor in defence while Claudio Cacapa came in for the absent Mark Viduka, allowing Alan Smith to operate in a more advanced role.

Everton survived an early scare when Alan Smith exploited Obafemi Martins’s pace by playing a pinpoint ball between Joseph Yobo and Lescott but despite getting ahead of the latter, the Nigerian striker failed to show composure in front of goal.

The visitors almost took the lead in bizarre fashion when a misplaced cross from the right by Tony Hibbert proved an awkward take for Given.

The Irish keeper was beaten to the aerial ball by an Anichebe header and Faye twice had to clear off the line.

The end-to-end start to proceedings continued at the other end as Charles N’Zogbia pushed up from the left-hand side of midfield and let fly with a low drive which Howard tipped around his post for a corner kick.

Newcastle continued to threaten throughout the first half and Lescott had to stretch to deflect an Alan Smith shot wide after the England international had been played in by a Martins lay-off.

Everton’s luck ran out on 42 minutes.

Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar got in a tangle under pressure from N’Zogbia, allowing Smith to centre and although Lescott was able to get in to intercept, he was unable to get any power on his clearance and seemed to scoop the ball out of the area rather than whack it away from danger.

Nicky Butt brushed off Everton skipper Neville to control the loose ball and executed a perfectly-placed finish over Howard’s head to get one over on a couple of his former Manchester United team-mates.

A goal just before the interval, especially if you’re playing away at Newcastle, is never great for morale and could easily lead to a second half capitulation for teams lacking in strength and character.

However, after coming back to win after twice staring into the abyss against Metalist, Everton rolled up their sleeves at the start of the second half.

And, in a similar scenario to Kharkiv, they soon pulled themselves level.

Anichebe drove forward on 53 minutes and picked out the overlapping Leighton Baines down the left flank.

The former Wigan player, who has been a shining light during his early days at Goodison following a summer switch from the JJB Stadium, pulled back an inviting cross for substitute Johnson, who had only been on the field for eight minutes after replacing James McFadden,and the England international beat Enrique to the ball to side-foot home from close range for his first goal of the season.

Intriguingly, left-back Enrique, who was making his first Premier League start after signing from Villarreal, was recruited by Allardyce when Baines chose to return to his native Merseyside ahead of pulling on a black and white striped jersey but that will remain an unimportant footnote to this goal for Baines and particularly Johnson, who you always felt just needed a goal to kick-start his season.

The goal should have also kick-started Everton’s ambitions for winning this game and for the majority of the second half they dominated proceedings.

It looked like their efforts could be rewarded when substitute Osman picked out Anichebe on the right-hand side of the Newcastle penalty area but while it looked like a golden opportunity for the youngster, he was unable to show the same composure that fashioned his midweek goal when a slight hesitation allowed Cacapa to close down both his initial shot and a rebound.

The missed chance ultimately proved costly as a sensational 86th-minute strike from Emre restored the home side’s lead.

Fellow substitute Owen had already fired a warning shot when he cut inside Hibbert and forced Howard into a fingertip save low around his right-hand post.

However, just as they were with Newcastle’s first goal, Everton were again punished for failing to clear their lines properly.

An Osman header out from Owen’s right wing cross looked to have averted any danger but the ball fell straight to the feet of Emre – already an unpopular figure with Everton after his row with several of their players at Goodison Park last season – and the Turk drilled in a deadly accurate drive past Howard.

You’d have thought that would be game over but a further two goals – one at either end – followed in the closing stages.

With Everton chasing an equaliser, Owen escaped his marker Yobo to head in an Emre cross from the left.

A two-goal victory would have flattered the hosts and Everton got some scant consolation two minutes into stoppage time when a left-wing cross by Mikel Arteta was deflected towards his own goal by Smith and a flapping Shay Given could only knock the ball over the goal-line at his back post.

A funny end to a thrilling game but still nobody was laughing in the visitors’ camp.

It would be harsh to describe this defeat as a European hangover but if Everton are going to sip champagne on Thursday nights with the continent’s elite then they’re going to have to keep their vision clear at the weekend when stomaching some Newcastle Brown Ale.