Yoane Wissa very positive Wednesday update for Newcastle United on top of AFCON decision | OneFootball

Yoane Wissa is still yet to make his Newcastle United debut, but whisper it quietly, he might not have to wait much longer…

On Monday we heard that DR Congo had agreed not to select the striker for AFCON (African Cup Of Nations).

This meant that it wasn’t to be a case of Newcastle United getting Yoane Wissa fit at last and then losing him for up to five weeks in December and January.

To be honest, the World Cup is far more important for DR Congo and with them having to win just one more game in March in order to qualify for the 2026 finals in Mexico, Canada and the USA, having Yoane Wissa fully fit and ready for that via sustained club form, is surely a far bigger priority.

As for Newcastle United fans, it was also great to hear on Monday, Eddie Howe also giving us an update on Yoane Wissa and the final steps of his route into becoming part of NUFC matchday squads:

“Yoane participated in an 11v11 training game while we were at Everton.

“He’ll have another one at some stage this week and we’ll see how close he is.”

Well, we have now had a further very encouraging update, this time via the media

Luke Edwards of The Telegraph has now reported on Wednesday, that his information is that Yoane Wissa has successfully came through another behind closed doors 11 v 11 match AND that there is a chance he will make the bench against Burnley on Saturday.

This would be a huge boost for Eddie Howe, the playing squad, plus of course the Newcastle United fans.

With Will Osula currently unavailable with an ankle problem, on top of the ongoing Yoane Wissa absence, it has meant 18 year old Sean Neave on the bench in recent matches as the only out and out striker cover.

It is one of the busiest periods of the season and starting on Saturday there are five matches in total in a couple of weeks, starting with Burnley on the 6th December and Chelsea on 20th December.

Burnley (H) 6 December, Bayer Leverkusen (A) 10 December, Sunderland (A) 14 December, Fulham (H) 17 December, Chelsea (H) 20 December, Man U 26 December.

I know we have all felt sorry for ourselves as Newcastle United fans, not to have Yoane Wissa available these opening months of the season.

However, you have to feel sorry as well for the player himself.

Yoane Wissa was desperate to join Newcastle United and even did a mini Alexander Isak, not training with his Brentford teammates for a relatively brief (compared to Isak) time.

Having Wissa available would significantly increase Eddie Howe’s options in how he could set his team up for maximum goal threat, the DR Congo able to play the lone striker role but also the mouthwatering prospect of how he could potentially link up with Nick Woltemade in the same team.