Newcastle United’s record signing Yoane Wissa faces a frustrating spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this month.
The £55 million deadline-day arrival from Brentford, whose transfer was only completed minutes before the 9pm deal sheet deadline, has yet to make his debut for the Magpies.
Manager Eddie Howe confirmed that Wissa will miss at least six matches, including crucial Champions League clashes against Barcelona and Union Saint-Gilloise, as well as Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest, and a League Cup tie with Bradford City. Supporters will now have to wait until after the October international break to see the striker in black-and-white.
Wissa’s absence puts added pressure on Newcastle’s attacking options, with Nick Woltemade stepping in after scoring on his debut. The setback also casts doubt on Wissa’s availability for DR Congo’s World Cup qualifying campaign in October. Should he return as scheduled, the 29-year-old will still face further disruption in December and January when he is expected to join his country at the Africa Cup of Nations. This means Wissa could miss up to 12 of Newcastle’s first 26 games across all competitions since his high-profile move.
Speaking to reporters, Howe said: “Yoane will – we hope – be back after the next international break, so that’s the plan. That can always change, it’s always flexible. But I think that’s what I’ve been told.”
The injury comes at a difficult time for Newcastle, who have endured a tough start to the season and now face Barcelona in the Champions League at St James’ Park on Thursday.
