Newcastle United’s win over Manchester City produced plenty of memorable moments, but none caught more attention than Yoane Wissa’s surprise appearance on the pitch after full-time.
The £55 million summer signing has not played a single minute since arriving from Brentford due to injury, yet his presence during the celebrations hinted strongly that his long wait to make a debut may be coming to an end.
The cameras had shown him watching the match from the stands, smiling and soaking in the atmosphere, but when he made his way down the tunnel and onto the grass, it felt like a clear sign that he is edging closer to being involved.
Wissa has been described internally as being in a “good place,” and his decision to walk onto the pitch suggests confidence that his return is not far away.
He even joined a mini lap of honour after William Osula encouraged him to step out with the players for the first time since being handed the iconic No. 9 shirt. Seeing him laughing and celebrating with his teammates made supporters imagine how much more dangerous Newcastle might look once he is added to their attacking options.
Eddie Howe already has Nick Woltemade, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, and Osula all competing for roles across the frontline. Adding a fit and explosive Wissa into that mix would give Newcastle another powerful weapon, and it is clear from his smile alone that he is keen to be part of it as soon as possible.
While Wissa enjoyed his first taste of the post-match celebrations, Harvey Barnes lived through a rollercoaster of emotions during the 90 minutes. Many managers might have replaced him at half-time after two brutal misses in front of the Leazes End.
One chance was pushed wide after a perfect Jacob Murphy cross, leaving Barnes visibly frustrated. But Eddie Howe took a different approach. Instead of removing him early, he used those missed opportunities as motivation and trusted the winger to respond.
The decision paid off beautifully. Barnes returned from the break looking sharper and more determined, a reaction Howe later praised. The Newcastle boss explained that Barnes possesses a unique ability to stay calm even after mistakes something he considers a valuable trait in a goalscorer.
Howe highlighted that Barnes’ record in front of goal as a wide forward speaks for itself, and he never doubted the 26-year-old’s ability to put things right.
His first goal was a difficult finish, the sort of strike that only comes from confidence and clean technique. The second came from instinct, positioning, and hunger qualities Howe has always admired in him.
The manager expressed how pleased he was to see Barnes rewarded after working hard and refusing to let those early misses define his performance. For Howe, Barnes’ response highlighted both his character and his professionalism.
While Newcastle celebrated their comeback, Manchester City walked off the pitch frustrated and unsettled, especially after the second goal. Ruben Dias spoke openly about what angered the team, explaining why City players were shouting and complaining after the ball hit the net.
According to Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma felt he had been pushed or blocked by Barnes just before the finish. Dias said that the keeper had been forced out of position and believed the contact should have been punished.
He admitted that he did not notice the incident during the match but was surprised when he saw the replay, claiming Barnes pushed Donnarumma away from the goal.
Dias expressed frustration with what he sees as inconsistency, suggesting that referees often penalise minor contact elsewhere but allowed this one to stand despite its impact on the goalkeeper’s movement.
Still, he ended by saying that if this is the standard going forward, then players expect the same leniency in similar situations.
Newcastle, however, will not worry about City’s complaints. Their focus will be on the growing confidence in the squad, the resilience shown by players like Barnes, and the exciting promise of Wissa’s return.
With momentum building and key players on their way back, Eddie Howe may soon have the strongest attacking unit he has ever worked with at St James’ Park.
