The pursuit of a reliable goalscorer is a challenge that has defined the history of Newcastle United, and the arrival of Yoane Wissa was supposed to be the latest chapter in that storied tradition. However, as we move into the early months of 2026, the DR Congo international’s start to life on Tyneside has been more of a whisper than a roar.
While he has managed to find the back of the net three times in total since his high-profile move, the fluid, instinctive form that made him a nightmare for defenders during his time at Brentford has remained frustratingly out of reach.
For a player wearing the iconic number nine shirt, the weight of expectation is always heavy, but in Wissa’s case, the struggle to hit top gear is rooted in a series of unfortunate physical setbacks rather than a lack of talent.
The story behind Wissa’s slow start began almost the moment he signed his contract. Just days after completing a massive £55 million transfer from London to the North East, disaster struck during the international break.
While representing his country against Senegal in September, Wissa suffered a serious knee injury. It was the worst possible timing for a player who was desperate to hit the ground running at a new club.
Instead of spending his first few weeks building chemistry with his new teammates and adjusting to Eddie Howe’s high-intensity tactical system, Wissa was confined to the treatment room, beginning a long and grueling rehabilitation process before he had even made his home debut.
Eddie Howe has been remarkably candid about the situation, acknowledging that there is no “magic wand” to fix a player’s physical condition overnight. The head coach has preached patience, even when the fans and the player himself are eager for immediate results.
One of the biggest hurdles Wissa has faced is the lack of a proper foundation. When he joined Newcastle, he hadn’t had a consistent pre-season of training, and the knee injury essentially forced him to start his fitness journey from zero.
The desperation to impress a new fan base and justify a large price tag often leads players to try and rush their return, but the Premier League is a league that punishes anyone who is even a fraction below one hundred percent fitness.
So far, Wissa’s statistical output in the Premier League reflects this struggle for rhythm. He has only one league goal to his name in a black-and-white shirt, a strike that came during a 3-1 victory over Burnley in December.
For a man who fired in 19 goals for Brentford last season, this return is modest, but Howe is quick to point out that the player’s natural instincts haven’t disappeared. The manager believes that “match sharpness” is an elusive quality that can only be rediscovered through minutes on the pitch. It involves the split-second decisions, the timing of a run, and the composure in front of goal that players usually take for granted when they are in a flow state.
| Yoane Wissa Season Comparison | Brentford (Last Season) | Newcastle (Current Season) |
| Appearances | 38 | 12 (to date) |
| Goals Scored | 19 | 3 (All comps) |
| Minutes per Goal | 165 | 310 |
| Shooting Accuracy | 58% | 41% |
Howe’s careful management of Wissa is a deliberate attempt to avoid a secondary injury. Often, when a player returns from a major joint issue, the surrounding muscles are prone to strains as they overcompensate. By easing him back into the lineup and managing his training load, the coaching staff is trying to build a version of Wissa that can last for the next five years, rather than just the next five games.
The manager remains confident that once the “last bit of sharpness” returns, Newcastle will finally see the player they thought they were buying back in August.
The pressure on Wissa is also a reflection of Newcastle’s broader season. In a campaign where the team has dealt with a staggering number of injuries to key personnel, there is a constant search for a hero.
With the Champions League knockout rounds and crucial Premier League fixtures looming, the need for a clinical finisher is more pressing than ever. However, the club’s leadership seems to understand that physical recovery cannot be forced. Wissa is currently “fit” in a medical sense, but he is not yet “football fit” the level of conditioning required to sprint, turn, and battle with elite defenders for ninety minutes.
As we look toward the final stretch of the season, the hope is that Wissa’s trajectory will continue to point upward. If he can avoid further setbacks and string together a series of starts, that Brentford-era sharpness should naturally return.
For now, the “truth” behind his slow start is simple: it is the result of a serious injury occurring at the most sensitive time possible for a professional athlete. Newcastle fans have a history of being patient with players who show heart and desire, and Wissa has shown plenty of both as he fights to get back to his best.
The talent is there, the instincts are intact, and the manager’s faith is unwavering. All that remains is for time to do the work that no magic wand can accomplish.
