The arrival of Yoane Wissa at St James’ Park was heralded as a major statement of intent for Newcastle United, but the road to success has proven to be more arduous than initially anticipated.
As the Magpies prepare to host Brentford this afternoon, the narrative surrounding the 29-year-old forward is one of untapped potential and a patient search for peak fitness. Eddie Howe remains steadfast in his belief that the striker will eventually justify his £55 million price tag, but he has been candid about the physical hurdles that have hindered Wissa’s integration into the side.
The statistics from last season a prolific haul of 19 Premier League goals made Wissa one of the most coveted attackers in the division. However, his debut campaign in the North East has been defined by a solitary goal and a lengthy spell in the treatment room.
It is impossible to discuss Wissa’s form without addressing the severe posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury he suffered in September while on international duty with the DR Congo. This injury not only robbed him of four months of competitive football but also stripped away the physical rhythm that an elite striker relies upon.
Howe has been careful to manage expectations, noting that there is no “magic wand” to restore the explosive sharpness that defined Wissa’s time in West London. The manager pointed out that Wissa’s fitness journey has been uniquely challenging; he arrived at the club without a consistent pre-season training block, only to be hit by a major injury almost immediately.
This has left the player in a difficult cycle of “chasing” fitness the feeling of being medically fit to play but lacking the “match sharpness” required to navigate the split-second windows of opportunity that exist in the Premier League.
The pressure on the striker is intensified by the fact that Newcastle went back to the negotiating table four separate times to secure his signature. When a club invests that much time and capital into a player, the spotlight is naturally brighter.
Yet, Howe insists that Wissa’s natural goalscoring instincts remain intact. The “rustiness” seen in recent cameos is viewed as a temporary byproduct of his recovery rather than a permanent loss of ability.
The coaching staff expects a significant upswing in his performance levels during the second half of the season as he finally moves past the rehabilitation phase and into a state of consistent match rhythm.
Wissa is not the only high-profile arrival currently finding his feet under the intense scrutiny of the Tyneside faithful. Nick Woltemade, who joined in a club-record £69 million deal from Stuttgart, has also faced a steep learning curve.
While Woltemade doesn’t have a major injury to blame for his slow start, he is grappling with the sheer intensity and physicality of English football a drastic change from the Bundesliga. Howe noted that while the German started his tenure with a flash of brilliance, opponents have quickly adjusted to his style, forcing the young forward to evolve and find new ways to impact games.
| Player | Transfer Fee | Origin | Current Season Goals |
| Yoane Wissa | £55m | Brentford | 1 |
| Nick Woltemade | £69m | Stuttgart | 1 |
The tactical dilemma for Howe was highlighted during the recent trip to Anfield, where he chose to start without a recognized center-forward, opting for Anthony Gordon as a makeshift “false nine.”
However, with Gordon now sidelined by a hamstring issue, the door has swung wide open for either Wissa or Woltemade to reclaim their spot in the starting eleven. This afternoon’s clash against Brentford provides a poetic opportunity for Wissa to remind his former employers and his current supporters of exactly why Newcastle fought so hard to bring him to St James’ Park.
Ultimately, the manager’s message is one of long-term vision over short-term frustration. He values the work ethic both strikers have shown behind the scenes, particularly Woltemade’s “great attitude” in adapting to a new league.
For Wissa, the goal is simple: survive the initial “rust” and allow his body to catch up with his ambitions. If he can do that, the second half of the season may yet belong to the man in the black-and-white number nine shirt.
