Newcastle United's £55 million signing, Yoane Wissa, is facing a frustrating wait to make his debut, with injury woes continuing to haunt him. A promising start to his career at St. James' Park is on hold as the club navigates a delicate injury recovery.
Wissa, who joined from Brentford on deadline day, has been sidelined with a posterior cruciate ligament injury sustained while representing DR Congo in September. Initially, the injury didn't seem severe, and a return against Brighton & Hove Albion was tentatively planned. However, his absence has now extended into its 14th Newcastle match, and the wait continues.
The 29-year-old is back on the training ground but has not resumed full training, meaning he'll miss the upcoming Premier League clash with his former club, Brentford. This delay also rules him out of DR Congo's World Cup play-off against Cameroon and a potential subsequent match against Nigeria or Gabon, a crucial phase in Africa's World Cup qualification.
But here's where it gets controversial: Wissa's return to fitness coincides with the African Cup of Nations, scheduled for December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. If DR Congo advances, as they did in the previous tournament, Wissa could be called up, potentially missing an additional seven games for Newcastle. A dilemma looms: should he prioritize club or country?
Eddie Howe, Newcastle's head coach, has outlined a six-week plan for Wissa's return, akin to a pre-season schedule. Howe stated, 'We need to get him fully 100% fit and then we can really push him.' This cautious approach is understandable, but it leaves the club and fans eager to see Wissa in action.
As Newcastle prepares for a busy schedule, including a Premier League fixture against Manchester City and a Champions League trip to Marseille, the question remains: Will Wissa be ready to make his long-awaited debut? The club and its supporters eagerly await his return, but the African Cup of Nations could present a new challenge.
What do you think? Should Wissa prioritize Newcastle or DR Congo? Is it fair to ask players to choose between club and country?
