Striker Yoane Wissa is making significant strides in his recovery, edging closer to his debut for Newcastle United, according to manager Eddie Howe. Wissa, who joined the club from Brentford for a reported £55 million ($73.4 million) three months ago, faced a setback due to a knee injury incurred while on international duty. He has yet to don the Newcastle jersey in a competitive match.
Howe shared encouraging news about Wissa’s progress during a media briefing ahead of Newcastle’s upcoming Premier League clash against Burnley. “He’s getting closer. We had an 11 versus 11 game sort of for him on Wednesday, which was good; it allowed him to get around half an hour on the pitch, and he performed well,” stated Howe.
The manager highlighted the need to assess Wissa’s fitness further before determining if he can impact the team positively. “We’ll see how he is today. He’s looked good and come through everything. We have more training today, and we need to decide if he is fit and ready to make a difference at his highest levels,” Howe added.
In a boost for Newcastle, Wissa’s potential return to action means they won’t lose him to the Africa Cup of Nations, as he was not selected for the DR Congo squad. This week, he expressed his support for his national team on his Instagram, saying, “I’ll be the number one supporter! Big up to the family.”
Despite the anticipation surrounding Wissa’s return, Newcastle must focus on improving their performance after dropping 11 points from winning positions this season, which is the highest tally in the league. Howe emphasized the importance of learning from these situations, stating, “We’re always looking at patterns and trends, and I don’t believe there’s anything fundamentally wrong; however, we can certainly improve.”
On another injury front, Howe remains hopeful for Sandro Tonali’s availability after he went off against Tottenham. “He’s had a scan, and we don’t think it’s too bad. It was a knock similar to the one Joelinton sustained, and we’ll see how he is today,” he noted.
Newcastle will be eager to capitalize on their home advantage, having remained unbeaten in the Premier League at St. James’ Park since August. Fans are hopeful that with Wissa nearing fitness, the team can regain momentum and secure crucial points in their fight for a better league position.