Newcastle United have been hit with another frustrating injury setback, but there is finally a bright spot emerging in the form of Yoane Wissa’s long-awaited return.
At a time when Eddie Howe is preparing for one of the most intense and decisive months of the season, the last thing he would have wanted was more players being forced onto the sidelines.
The squad has already lost key names like Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento earlier in the campaign, and anyone who has watched Newcastle with and without those two on the pitch knows how much their presence changes the entire rhythm of the team.
Their speed, energy and attacking instinct at full-back have been missing, and December’s schedule is far too demanding to be heading into it short-handed.
The month ahead will shape Newcastle’s entire season. Between facing three of the traditional Big Six, preparing for a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fulham, travelling to Germany for a crucial Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen and gearing up for the first Tyne-Wear derby in years, the stakes could not be higher.
That is why news of another potential absence has arrived at the worst possible moment. According to Craig Hope of The Mail, Kieran Trippier appears set for at least a four-week spell out after picking up a hamstring injury in training before the game against Manchester City.
He already missed the Champions League trip to Marseille, and a follow-up scan has suggested the problem may be slightly worse than the club originally believed.
If the full four-week timeline proves accurate, Newcastle would be without the experienced defender for Everton this weekend, followed by two major Premier League matches against Spurs and Burnley.
More importantly, he would also miss the defining games against Leverkusen and Sunderland. Even though Livramento and Hall have recently returned, losing Trippier at this point is far from ideal. Howe will not want to overload his young full-backs when they’ve only just recovered, and Trippier would’ve been a perfect option to rotate, protect and guide them through such a congested period.
Despite that worrying blow, fans can finally celebrate some much-needed positive news. In the same report, Hope revealed the strongest indication yet that Yoane Wissa is closing in on his debut for the club.
The forward trained with the team for the first time this week, returning to full sessions on Wednesday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out since the season began. It has been a slow, careful comeback, and Newcastle have avoided any risk that might delay his return further.
While Saturday’s game comes too soon, there is growing confidence that he could be available for the derby if he completes next week’s training without any setbacks.
For a team that has been crying out for more depth, quality and experience in the final third, the prospect of Wissa finally entering the fold is massive. Howe has needed another outlet someone with power, pace and composure and Wissa possesses all of that.
His absence has also meant the attack has relied heavily on the same few players, and bringing him back gives the manager far more freedom to change shape, rotate and rest legs during such an intense run of fixtures.
There is also another angle to Wissa’s recovery that may help Newcastle even more. With AFCON just over two weeks away, and with him yet to play a competitive minute this season, it looks increasingly unlikely that he will be selected for DR Congo’s squad.
If he remains with Howe instead of heading to the tournament, it would be a huge boost during a time when clubs across the Premier League will lose key players to international duty.
The injury news may not be perfect, and losing Trippier for up to a month is a significant blow at a difficult time, but Wissa’s return offers rare and much-needed hope.
If he can stay fit, settle quickly and bring his best qualities to the attack, his impact could help Newcastle navigate one of the most challenging periods of the season with far more confidence.
