Wissa and Ramsey ruled out of Wolves clash, says Howe | OneFootball

United return to Premier League action this weekend following the international break, targeting a first league win of the 2025/26 campaign against a Wolves side who have lost their opening three league fixtures.

Howe, however, revealed that Yoane Wissa will be unavailable to make his Magpies debut after the DR Congo international sustained a knee injury whilst representing his country earlier this week while Jacob Ramsey will be sidelined for a number of weeks after suffering an ankle injury on his first Newcastle start in last month's goalless draw at Leeds United.

Nick Woltemade, though, could be handed his United bow following the German striker's club record signing from VfB Stuttgart while Howe also discussed the appointment of David Hopkinson as the club's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) last week.

Here are some of the boss' main talking points from Friday morning's pre-match media briefing at the Newcastle United Media Centre...

On Yoane Wissa...

"Unfortunately, he won't make this game. I saw him for the first time yesterday and he's feeling the effects of the [knee] injury sustained just before he came off [while on international duty]. We're going to have to see how he is.

"He's an established Premier League goalscorer which is very difficult to find. He's got really good qualities and [had] an outstanding few years, with history of scoring goals.

"He's done well against us and been a difficult player for us to handle when we've come up against him and I admire the journey he's been on to get to this point because it's not been easy for him. He's had big steps to make in his career but he has always adjusted and made them. Hopefully, he can do the same with us."

On team-news, including Jacob Ramsey and Joelinton...

"Jacob is the only other injury concern and he'll miss the game. He's suffered from that tackle against Leeds, his ankle swelled up at half-time and he had to come off.

"Unfortunately, I think he'll be missing until the next international break so that's a big blow.

"Joelinton has trained. He's been fit and available, he's been out on the training pitch and is looking good. Really happy to welcome him back, such an important player."

On Nick Woltemade...

"He's fine [for Wolves]. He's trained well and we're really pleased with how he's looked in the first couple of days. Big change for him, big opportunity for him.

"He's got a great nature, a great character. He's very calm and he's gone straight into our training and not looked out of place. He's shown his qualities. We're really pleased with how he's settled in."

On the appointment of David Hopkinson as CEO...

"We've had several conversations. He's a great person, really great energy. He's very, very positive. I think he's a great appointment.

"It's an appointment that was much needed, unfortunately with Darren's illness which has left a big gap. David will come in and hopefully take the club off the pitch into a new direction."

On the international break...

"It's been a good batch of training for us. We always enjoy training with the players, albeit with some different numbers on different days which is always a good challenge to keep them entertained and mentally stimulated for the two weeks.

"I feel like those players that have stayed needed some work and we've got some good work into them. They're certainly better in a physical condition.

On the playing schedule, with the Magpies set to play seven matches in the next 23 days...

"With the schedule we have coming up, we always knew how this season looked for us, with a slow start in terms of week-to-week games and then we're going to be into a storm of games.

"That's what we want. It's going to be a great period for us in terms of challenges, quick turnarounds and the whole squad ready to play and that's why the last two weeks has been good as we've been able to get work into the players that needed it."