Yoane Wissa’s wait to make his Newcastle United debut continues, with Eddie Howe confirming that the forward’s recovery and return to full fitness will take longer than initially expected.
The £55 million summer signing from Brentford has endured a difficult start to life on Tyneside after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury just days after joining the club.
His situation has left Newcastle without one of their major attacking additions, and while progress is being made, Howe has admitted that patience will be required before Wissa is ready to perform at his best.
The Congolese international picked up the injury while representing DR Congo shortly after his transfer. Despite lacking match fitness and having missed Brentford’s entire pre-season, Wissa was called up for two World Cup qualifiers and started both games within the space of four days. Unfortunately, during the second match a 3-2 defeat to Senegal he sustained a knee problem that has sidelined him ever since.
The timing could not have been worse, as Newcastle were eager to integrate him quickly into their squad following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
Although Wissa has now returned to light training and is back on the grass, Howe has made it clear that his full return will be gradual. Speaking to the local press, the Newcastle boss explained that the forward still needs significant conditioning work before he can handle the physical demands of Premier League football.
“I believe if you look at Yoane’s situation, he will need almost a pre-season,” Howe said. “We usually give players six weeks during pre-season for a reason to build them up gradually through training and friendly matches before they’re ready to perform. I’m not saying he won’t play for six weeks, but to reach his best level, that’s probably how long it will take.”
In essence, Wissa will undergo what Howe described as an in-season ‘six-week pre-season’ once he’s medically cleared for full training. That plan includes conditioning work, match simulations, and controlled intensity sessions aimed at rebuilding his sharpness without risking another setback.
The 29-year-old is believed to be at least two weeks away from joining full team training, and with an international break on the horizon, that timeline could stretch further.
The target remains for Wissa to be available around early to mid-November, though his manager hinted the schedule could shift slightly depending on his progress.
Newcastle’s cautious approach is understandable given the circumstances. Wissa arrived without match rhythm, having been inactive for months before his injury, and the club does not want to rush his return only to face further complications.
The situation draws inevitable comparisons to Alexander Isak’s struggles at Liverpool. The Swedish forward missed pre-season amid transfer uncertainty and later suffered fitness issues and a groin injury after joining his new club. Howe, mindful of those parallels, is determined not to repeat that mistake with Wissa.
“He’s on the right track,” Howe added. “He’s doing well, and he’s been to see a specialist as part of a routine check-up. Everything is going smoothly, so we can now start pushing him a bit harder. The main thing is getting him 100% fit before we start thinking about minutes on the pitch.”
However, there’s a looming challenge for Newcastle even once Wissa returns. The forward is expected to be called up by DR Congo for the African Cup of Nations, which runs from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco.
If his nation performs as they did in the previous tournament reaching the semi-finals Wissa could miss up to seven Newcastle matches during that period. For Howe, it’s a frustrating scenario.
After months of rehabilitation and a carefully managed fitness plan, Wissa may be whisked away to international duty just as he regains form and sharpness.
The club has yet to decide whether he will participate in AFCON, and much depends on his condition closer to the tournament. From Wissa’s perspective, there’s a strong desire to repay Newcastle’s faith after such an unlucky start.
His arrival was meant to boost an attack that had lost a star striker, and missing nearly half a season has been far from ideal. Yet both player and manager appear aligned in their cautious optimism.
Eddie Howe’s comments reflect a pragmatic approach rooted in long-term thinking. He’s aware that the real benefit of Wissa’s signing may not be fully felt until 2026, once the forward has enjoyed a complete pre-season and adapted to the pace and intensity of English football.
For now, the goal is steady progress. Wissa has the talent and mentality to succeed, but Newcastle will make sure he returns only when his body is ready to handle the demands of top-flight football.
If all goes according to plan, Newcastle fans could finally see their £55 million man in action before the end of November. And while his immediate impact may be limited, Howe’s structured recovery plan could ensure that when Wissa does take the field, he’s not just fit he’s fully ready to make a difference.
