Watch Yoane Wissa score his first goal since Newcastle move as DR Congo caused chaos
The international break is always a fascinating time for club fans, offering a chance to see how their players perform on the global stage.
For Newcastle United supporters, it’s been a period of mixed results and promising glimpses into what the future might hold.
While some players have faced challenges, others have seized the moment to shine, and one performance, in particular, has given everyone on Tyneside a reason to smile.
The break began on a somewhat frustrating note for German international Nick Woltemade. Leading the line for his country in a surprising 2-0 defeat to Slovakia, the young striker struggled to make his usual impact.
The problem wasn’t a lack of effort, but a severe lack of service, leaving him isolated for large parts of the game and highlighting how even the most talented forwards rely on their team.
Thankfully, the mood was quickly lifted by two of his new Newcastle teammates. In the early hours of Friday morning, club captain Bruno Guimarães delivered a masterclass for Brazil, scoring a goal and controlling the midfield in a dominant 3-0 victory over Chile.
It was a reminder of his world-class quality and a performance that surely made every Magpie fan proud.
But the spotlight then shifted to a different continent and a different Newcastle newcomer. Yoane Wissa, fresh from his move from Brentford, was in action for DR Congo in their World Cup qualifier against South Sudan.
And he did not disappoint. In a commanding 4-1 victory, Wissa was directly involved in two of the goals, first providing a clever assist for his side’s third before capping off the win with a goal of his own.
His finish was a lesson in composure, slotting home calmly in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. The goal was followed by a brilliant, joyful celebration, showing a player full of confidence and happiness.
This is exactly the kind of form Newcastle hoped they were getting. Wissa arrives off the back of a stunning Premier League season where he scored 19 goals a tally that matched the non-penalty goal output of the now-departed Alexander Isak.
His instinct for being in the right place at the right time and his knack for making clever runs in behind defenders make him a constant threat.
This particular skill set could prove to be the perfect complement to Nick Woltemade’s style of play. While Woltemade excels at dropping deep to link play and bring others into the game with the ball at his feet, Wissa specializes as the ultimate “fox in the box.”
This partnership has the potential to become a perfect pairing, offering a balanced and dynamic threat that could cause nightmares for Premier League defenses.
After being substituted around the hour mark to keep him fresh, Wissa will now turn his attention to DR Congo’s next crucial qualifier at home to Senegal on Tuesday.
For Newcastle fans, his immediate impact for his national team is an exciting preview of what he might bring to St. James’ Park.
After a mixed start to the break, his clinical contribution provided a perfect ending to the day and a thrilling glimpse into the season ahead.