The excitement that comes with a major new signing is one of the best feelings in football. For Newcastle United fans, the deadline day capture of Yoane Wissa from Brentford for £55 million was a moment of real optimism.
Here was a proven Premier League goal scorer, a player known for his durability and consistent performances, arriving to add firepower to the attack.
Unfortunately, that excitement has quickly turned to frustration and disappointment, as the striker has yet to kick a ball for his new club due to an injury picked up on international duty.
The situation is particularly frustrating because of how it happened. Wissa had not played any club football all summer, as he was in the process of finalizing his transfer.
Despite this lack of match fitness, he was called up by the Democratic Republic of Congo for their World Cup qualifying matches. He was then selected to start both games, playing a significant number of minutes.
He even managed to score in each match, showing his undoubted quality, but the physical toll was severe. It was during this period that he sustained a knee injury that has now delayed his Newcastle debut indefinitely.
Manager Eddie Howe has now provided a clear update on the timeline for Wissa’s return, and it makes for sobering reading.
The striker is expected to be sidelined until after the next international break in October. This means he will miss a total of seven crucial matches for Newcastle, including Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest, as well as the next Champions League group game.
Furthermore, he will not be joining up with his national team during that break, ruling him out of two more internationals.
The very best-case scenario is that he might be available for the Premier League trip to Brighton on October 18th, but even that is described as “touch and go.”
Howe spoke about the situation with a clear sense of disappointment but also with a degree of resignation.
He explained that the club was essentially powerless once the player left for international duty. Clubs have very little control over how national team managers use their players, especially when it comes to minutes on the pitch.
Howe stated that the club did everything they could to look after Wissa before he left, but ultimately, the decision to play him extensively was out of their hands.
He described the feeling as one of devastation but emphasized that he tries not to waste energy on frustration over things he cannot control.
The focus now is entirely on supporting Wissa through his recovery and getting him back on the pitch as quickly and safely as possible.
This lengthy absence throws the spotlight firmly onto another new signing, Nick Woltemade. The German striker, who became the club’s record signing when he arrived for £69 million, is now the only recognized senior striker available.
He made a dream start by scoring the winner on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the manager has signaled that he will need to be managed carefully.
The physical demands of the Premier League are intense, and Howe is aware that throwing Woltemade into every game could risk burning him out or causing an injury of his own.
The situation is further complicated by the suspension of Anthony Gordon, who is serving a domestic ban and is unavailable for the upcoming match.
This leaves the manager with very few options to rotate and protect his only fit striker. For Eddie Howe, it is a challenging balancing act.
He needs results now, but he also must ensure his key players are managed for the long, demanding season ahead.
The hope is that Woltemade can continue his positive start and lead the line effectively, but the absence of Yoane Wissa is a significant blow that the team will have to overcome through collective effort and resilience.
