Newcastle's £55M Signing Yoane Wissa Nears Return After Knee Injury

Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United's £55 million striker, remains sidelined with a knee injury sustained during international duty with DR Congo, delaying his much-anticipated debut for the club. Despite initial hopes for an earlier return, coach Eddie Howe confirmed Wissa is "not close" to training with the first team and will miss upcoming matches, including the Premier League game against West Ham. Wissa's injury is identified as a PCL injury, requiring a cautious rehabilitation approach to build his fitness and robustness, potentially delaying his return until after the international break or possibly later. While Wissa has not played, his presence continues to influence the squad positively, with Howe highlighting his strong character and leadership qualities, as seen in his involvement in team activities like post-match celebrations. Newcastle has managed well in his absence, securing a Carabao Cup quarter-final spot and relying on other forwards like Nick Woltemade, but Wissa's eventual return is expected to strengthen the team's attacking options. Fans remain eager for his debut, with speculation pointing to a possible return in a match against Brentford, although no exact date has been confirmed due to ongoing recovery needs.