Supporters of Newcastle have been anticipating the debut of DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa in the iconic black and white strip for more than a couple of months.
During the summer transfer window, Wissa transitioned from his previous club in West London, Brentford, to the northeast, fulfilling a widely expected move to Newcastle that was finalized in the closing moments of the trading period.
Newcastle United’s Stance on Yoane Wissa’s AFCON Participation
Wissa’s anticipated debut in Newcastle was hampered by a knee injury he picked up on international duty in September. The setback has caused delays to his introduction on the field over the last nine weeks.
Despite hopes that Wissa would be ready before the international break in November, it’s unlikely that he will be included in Eddie Howe’s squad for the upcoming game against his former team this weekend.
Howe mentioned in his pre-match press conference that Wissa still needs to gain match fitness after recovering from the knee injury which at first threatened to throw his whole season off course.
After the international break finishes later in the month, Wissa will be gradually introduced to the team, but soon after, the Africa Cup of Nations is set to commence on December 21.
Since DR Congo has successfully qualified for the biennial competition, there were concerns that Wissa’s return to full fitness would coincide with him departing to join his national team.
However, according to the Daily Mail, this is now looking less likely, as discussions between Newcastle officials and representatives from DR Congo continue.
The Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA) might be unwilling to participate in AFCON without one of their key and most influential players. However, given the circumstances surrounding Wissa’s injury, Newcastle may find themselves in a strong negotiating position.
As Wissa sustained the injury while fulfilling international duties, FIFA has been compensating Newcastle for the entirety of his injury period, covering the 29-year-old’s salary.
It has now been five months since he engaged in regular training or played in a match, a situation exacerbated by a pre-season disrupted by attempts to facilitate a move to Tyneside. Consequently, it’s highly improbable that he’ll be in the condition to play consistently or for a full 90 minutes once he’s declared fit enough to participate in a matchday squad.
The Magpies invested £55 million in securing Wissa’s signature, despite the forward having less than a year remaining on his contract with Brentford.
Currently, it’s anticipated that Wissa’s debut for Newcastle will take place at the commencement of December, with St. James’ Park slated to host matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley.
