Yoane Wissa is reportedly set to avoid a nine-month injury layoff, with Newcastle's £55 million ($74m) striker eyeing a return against former club Brentford. The 29-year-old, yet to even kick a ball for the Magpies since arriving on Tyneside, injured his knee while on international duty with DR Congo just a week after completing his move. The timing could not have been worse, as he hadn't even trained once with his new team-mates before disaster struck.
A setback even before a start at Newcastle
Eddie Howe had previously confirmed that Wissa’s recovery had been slower than hoped. Speaking earlier this month, the Newcastle boss revealed the forward had undergone another specialist consultation, which pushed back his expected comeback.
Howe previously explained: "Yoane saw a specialist again yesterday for a check-up on his knee. We probably think now it’ll be eight weeks rather than six from the point of the injury. It’s no recurrence or problem, just slightly longer."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesNewcastle fans have new hope
According to the , fears that Wissa had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) were wide of the mark. Instead, the injury is to his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). It is a less serious but still delicate setback. Crucially, surgery will not be required. Recovery timelines for PCL injuries can vary widely, from a few weeks to several months, depending on the extent of the damage. Because Wissa’s injury was relatively mild and non-surgical, there’s growing confidence he’ll be back before the end of November. At the moment, the swelling in his knee remains the final obstacle. Once that subsides, the former Brentford talisman will begin full-contact training.
It was earlier suggested that Wissa was eyeing the West Ham clash on November 2 for his long-awaited debut. However, that timeline has been further pushed back, and a reunion with his old club Brentford a week later could be the more realistic comeback date. It is mentioned that Newcastle are in no rush to force an early return. They believe Wissa is a long-term asset for the club, and patience is the key while dealing with such a critical injury.
Wissa has resumed activity on grass
The forward has already resumed running on grass, and while he could theoretically play through pain using injections, Wissa does not want to take any shortcuts. Moreover, beyond the immediate concern of getting him fit, another issue is quietly brewing, which is the Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament, set to take place between December 21 and January 18 in Morocco, could see Wissa called up by DR Congo. Initially, many assumed Wissa would only have a brief window with Newcastle before jetting off to represent his country. But that assumption might now be changing. The suggests that his suggest that his participation in AFCON is not guaranteed. The focus, for now, is entirely on rebuilding strength and ensuring his long-term fitness. With the World Cup on the horizon next summer, Wissa’s management is equally keen to ensure he doesn’t aggravate his knee injury by rushing into international action.
Meanwhile, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, has called out Wissa and urged him to stay with the Magpies and skip the AFCON.
"It will be a really difficult decision for Wissa not to go to AFCON because you always want to represent your country," Shearer told . "But what I would say is, because of him not training or playing during the summer, he could've shown more responsibility in not playing as much as he did in those two games when he went away on international duty and hadn't played at all. But it's really tough to say to someone they can't and won't represent their country when it means so much. And we know AFCON is huge and players want to play in that tournament.
"It'll be a tough ask, but I understand that there'll be a lot of people thinking that he's never played for Newcastle and he needs to show some loyalty towards us. I get it and understand that point-of-view because Newcastle shelled out a lot of money on him and he hasn't been able to take to the St James' Park turf as yet. It'd be a really tough decision for him and Newcastle. Whether there's a way around it, I'm not so sure."
Getty Images SportWoltemade coming in clutch for Newcastle
The Magpies' cautious stance with Wissa is made easier by the blistering form of Nick Woltemade, Newcastle’s other new striker who arrived for £69 million ($93m) this summer. The towering German has quickly found his rhythm, netting four goals in seven appearances, and has seamlessly filled the void left by Wissa’s absence. As Newcastle prepare to face Brighton this weekend, the German striker will once again lead the line.