It is never easy for a new signing to watch his team play from the sidelines, especially when an injury is the only thing keeping him from making his debut.
For Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa, that was the frustrating situation this past weekend. The club’s exciting deadline day acquisition from Brentford had to sit out the Magpies’ match against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to a knee injury he picked up while on international duty with DR Congo.
But even though he couldn’t be on the pitch, he made sure his presence was felt in a different way.
As the final whistle blew on a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Newcastle, the celebrations weren’t confined to the stadium.
They quickly spilled over onto social media, where players shared their joy with fans. And right there in the comments, offering his support and congratulations, was Yoane Wissa.
It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about the team spirit already building around the club.
When record signing Nick Woltemade posted about his happiness after scoring the winning goal on his debut, Wissa was quick to reply with a supportive message filled with positive emojis.
He also joined in celebrating the contributions of other key players, sending a playful “room service” comment with a chef’s kiss emoji to winger Jacob Murphy, who provided the assist for the goal.
It was a lighthearted way of acknowledging a perfect delivery. To defender Kieran Trippier, he sent symbols of strength and excitement, sharing in the overall satisfaction of an important three points.
These interactions might seem small, but they are important. For a player who has just arrived at a new club, staying connected and showing support for his teammates even when he can’t play helps build chemistry and shows that he is already part of the family. It tells the fans and the players that he is invested and eager to contribute as soon as he is able.
Unfortunately, that contribution will have to wait a little longer. The initial fear was that Wissa’s awkward fall during his national team’s match against Senegal might have caused a very serious, long-term injury.
Thankfully, the results from medical scans have brought a sense of relief. While the injury is significant enough to keep him out for several weeks, he has avoided the worst-case scenario.
The current expectation is that he will be sidelined for approximately four to five weeks, which means he is likely to return after the next international break in October.
This timeline means he will miss some important fixtures, including the glamorous UEFA Champions League opener against Barcelona at St. James’ Park, as well as Premier League matches against clubs like Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
The hope is that he will be ready to make his long-awaited debut for the club in the match against Brighton & Hove Albion in the middle of October.
The fact that the club pursued him so determinedly shows how much they believe in what he can bring to the team. Manager Eddie Howe has spoken openly about why Wissa was such a priority signing.
He highlighted Wissa’s proven ability to score goals in the Premier League, something that is incredibly difficult to find and even harder to recruit.
Howe also expressed his admiration for the player’s personal journey and his ability to successfully adapt to bigger challenges throughout his career.
For now, the Newcastle supporters will have to be patient. They caught a thrilling glimpse of what their future might look like with Nick Woltemade making an instant impact.
But they also know that when Yoane Wissa finally pulls on the black and white shirt, he will add another layer of proven quality and attacking threat to a squad that is eager to compete on all fronts.
His supportive messages from the sidelines are just a preview of the positive impact he hopes to make on the field.
