Newcastle's £55m striker crisis: Yoane Wissa still sidelined as debut wait continues

The 29-year-old DR Congo international completed his move on 1 September, a deal rushed through in the final moments of the window to replace Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British-record 125 million pounds. But just days later, while on international duty, Wissa suffered a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) knee injury against Senegal.

Initial fears of a season-ending ACL tear were quickly allayed, but recovery has been slower than hoped. As of mid-November 2025, Wissa is back running on grass and stepping up individual work, but Eddie Howe has repeatedly stressed he is "not close" to full-group training or match action due to the need for a careful build-up in fitness and robustness.

Howe said recently: "He's working very hard, out on the grass, getting the fitness work in that he needs. I'd say he's not close to training with the group at the moment, not through injury, but through fitness and making sure we build his robustness." The manager has described the situation as requiring a "mini pre-season" for the forward, who missed all of Newcastle's pre-season amid the protracted transfer saga.

The delay means Wissa has already missed Newcastle's first 11 Premier League games and several cup ties. 

Upcoming fixtures he is almost certain to sit out include:

22 November: Newcastle vs Manchester City (H)

29 November: Everton vs Newcastle (A)

Club legend Alan Shearer has been vocal, suggesting Wissa showed a lack of caution by playing full matches for DR Congo in September despite limited pre-season preparation, and urged him to consider skipping the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025, 21 December-18 January 2026 in Morocco) to prioritise his Newcastle career and prove his commitment after such a big-money move.

Howe has steered clear of that debate, saying: "That's a conversation and topic that I'm not going to get involved in. That's not fair to Yoane."

There are reports Newcastle are in discussions with DR Congo officials to potentially rest Wissa for the tournament given his injury lay-off, which would allow him to bed in properly during the busy festive period without further interruption.

In Wissa's absence, fellow summer striker signing Nick Woltemade, a club-record arrival from Stuttgart, has shouldered the load up front with impressive early returns, offering physical presence and link-up play. However, Wissa was specifically recruited for his proven Premier League pace, pressing and clinical finishing to add a different dynamic in attack.

Newcastle insisted from the outset there has been "no recurrence" of issues, just a cautious approach to a significant investment. When fit, integrating the versatile forward (who can play centrally or wide) will be key, especially as the squad adapts post-Isak.

For now, the big-money striker crisis rumbles on, but with Wissa progressing well behind the scenes and described by Howe as a "leader" and positive influence in the dressing room, his eventual debut could still prove a turning point in Newcastle's season.

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