Newcastle United are facing a crucial few weeks regarding the fitness of Yoane Wissa, the £55 million summer signing from Brentford who has yet to make his debut for the club.
The Congolese forward arrived at St James’ Park on deadline day full of excitement and expectation, but his start to life in the North East has been delayed by a frustrating knee injury sustained on international duty.
The 28-year-old striker suffered the setback while representing DR Congo in September during World Cup qualifying matches against South Sudan and Senegal.
These were his first competitive games since the end of the 2024/25 season, as Wissa had skipped much of Brentford’s pre-season training to push through his move to Newcastle.
Despite scoring in both of those fixtures, his return was cut short when he picked up the injury that has since kept him sidelined.
Medical examinations carried out upon his return to Tyneside confirmed that Wissa would need at least a month to recover.
Manager Eddie Howe later shared that the forward was unlikely to play before November, meaning the club has been forced to wait patiently for one of their biggest summer investments to finally make his mark.
The estimated timeline puts his potential return just a few weeks away, giving hope that Wissa could feature in Newcastle’s Premier League clash against his former club, Brentford, on November 9 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
That game could be an emotional one for Wissa, who left Brentford after three impressive seasons. Ironically, it could also mark his debut in black and white.
However, Newcastle must carefully assess his fitness before allowing him back into full competition. Given the timing of his recovery, it’s a tight race to get him ready without taking unnecessary risks.
Howe’s team have learned from past injuries, and they are expected to take a cautious approach to ensure that Wissa returns at 100% fitness rather than rushing him back.
The timing of his recovery also comes with an added layer of complexity. The Brentford match will be Newcastle’s final fixture before the November international break, during which DR Congo are scheduled to play vital World Cup qualification play-off matches.
These games could define DR Congo’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup a dream that the country has never realised under its current name. Their last World Cup appearance dates back to 1974, when they competed as Zaire.
DR Congo’s qualification path remains challenging. After finishing second behind Senegal in their group, they now face a decisive play-off against Cameroon.
If they manage to win that encounter, they will then take on the winner of the Gabon versus Nigeria tie for a chance to qualify for the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March 2026.
Those play-offs will see one African side compete against teams from South America, Asia, Oceania, and North America for the final World Cup spots.
For Wissa, these matches could represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead his country toward football’s biggest stage. However, from Newcastle’s perspective, this situation presents a dilemma.
The club must decide whether to allow Wissa to join his national team so soon after recovering from injury especially if he has only played one or two matches before the break.
Eddie Howe and his medical staff will need to weigh up the risks. On one hand, international exposure and competitive match fitness could benefit Wissa in the long term, helping him regain rhythm and sharpness.
On the other, there’s the danger of aggravating the injury and losing him again for a longer spell something Newcastle can ill afford as the fixture list intensifies.
The decision will likely depend on his progress in training over the coming weeks. If he shows full recovery and confidence in his knee, Newcastle may be more open to letting him play for DR Congo.
However, given the club’s investment and the importance of maintaining momentum domestically, they might prefer to manage his workload carefully through controlled minutes in Premier League matches first.
Wissa himself is expected to be eager to represent his country, especially with the World Cup dream in sight. But his priority will also be to establish himself at Newcastle and justify the faith the club showed in him with his high-profile signing.
Fans are waiting eagerly to see him in action, and his eventual debut could provide a new spark to Newcastle’s attacking options as they aim for another strong season.
One thing is certain November will be a defining month for both Wissa and Newcastle United. The coming weeks will determine not only when he finally steps onto the pitch for his new club but also whether he will get the chance to lead his nation in a historic World Cup campaign.
