Newcastle United’s attacking power looks set to become even stronger as Yoane Wissa edges closer to full fitness, offering Eddie Howe a chance to finally unleash the £124 million partnership between the Congolese forward and German striker Nick Woltemade.
After weeks of uncertainty following a frustrating knee injury, Wissa’s return to training has brought optimism back to the club and fans alike.
The 27-year-old forward, who joined Newcastle for £55 million, has been spotted laughing and joking with teammates in the training ground canteen a clear signal that his rehabilitation is going smoothly.
His presence back on the grass is a huge boost for Howe’s side, especially with key fixtures coming up in the Premier League and Carabao Cup. If everything goes according to plan, Wissa could be available for selection as early as next weekend’s clash against West Ham United.
For Eddie Howe, the idea of pairing Wissa with £69 million signing Nick Woltemade has been an exciting prospect since the start of the campaign.
The two players bring pace, power, and unpredictability qualities that could transform Newcastle’s attacking play. However, Wissa’s early setback disrupted that vision, leaving the manager to reshuffle his frontline in recent weeks.
Now, as Wissa continues to make solid progress without any fresh setbacks, that long-awaited strike force could finally be seen in action.
Wissa sustained his knee injury during international duty with DR Congo back in September. His return was initially scheduled for the Brighton & Hove Albion fixture, but that comeback was delayed to ensure complete recovery.
Despite the frustration, his dedication to rehabilitation has been evident, with teammate William Osula recently sharing a photo of Wissa enjoying post-training activities a small but reassuring sign that he is in good spirits and ready to rejoin the group fully.
Eddie Howe provided an encouraging update last week, explaining that Wissa’s knee has reacted positively to his training workload. “We think he will be back during this period of games before the next international break,” Howe said.
“We don’t know exactly when that will be, but we expect him to return soon if he doesn’t suffer any ill effects from anything he is doing.” The focus now is on managing his progression carefully and ensuring that when Wissa returns, he is ready to make an immediate impact rather than risk another setback.
There remains some speculation about whether Wissa might feature in the Carabao Cup fixtures against Fulham or Tottenham Hotspur, depending on how quickly he adapts to full training.
His gradual integration is a priority for Howe, who wants to balance the excitement of his return with the reality of long-term fitness management.
One concern among Newcastle fans is the timing of Wissa’s return, with the Africa Cup of Nations looming in December. If Wissa regains form quickly, he will likely be called up by DR Congo, meaning Newcastle could lose him for several weeks during a critical period of the season.
Club legend Alan Shearer weighed in on the matter, noting that while it’s natural for players to want to represent their country, Wissa may need to consider the club’s needs too, especially given his lack of summer training.
“It will be a really difficult decision for Wissa not to go to AFCON because you always want to represent your country,” Shearer said. “But because he wasn’t playing or training much in the summer, maybe he should’ve shown more responsibility by not playing so much during those two international games.”
Eddie Howe, however, remained neutral when asked about the club-versus-country debate. “That’s a conversation and a topic I’m not going to get involved in,” he replied firmly. “That’s not fair on Yoane. I haven’t seen Alan’s comments, but that’s one I’ll stay away from.”
For now, the focus remains on Wissa’s recovery and the tantalising prospect of seeing him link up with Nick Woltemade. The combination of Wissa’s direct running, intelligent positioning, and finishing ability alongside Woltemade’s physical presence and creativity promises to give Newcastle a new dimension in attack.
Fans are eager to see the duo in full flow a potential partnership worth £124 million that could redefine Howe’s front line heading into a decisive part of the season.
If Wissa can stay fit and hit the ground running, his return could be the spark Newcastle need to push on both domestically and in Europe. The wait has been long, but all signs suggest that his comeback is closer than ever, and the excitement around St James’ Park is beginning to build once again.
