Wissa must wait longer for Magpies debut

Yoane Wissa

Saturday Oct 04, 2025. 14:00

Yoane Wissa will be sidelined for “slightly longer” than expected after Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe provided an update on the injured striker.

The DR Congo international has yet to make his debut for the Magpies since being signed from Premier League rivals Brentford for a fee of £45 million on transfer deadline day.

Wissa has missed six games across all competitions after sustaining a knee injury against Senegal in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on September 9 which saw him score a goal in a 3-2 defeat for the Leopards.

Howe had hoped that the 29-year-old would be available for the trip to Brighton on October 18, but his return has now been pushed back by two weeks following a consultation with a specialist on Thursday.

“Yoane saw a specialist again yesterday for a check-up on his knee,” Howe said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park.

“We probably think now it’ll be eight weeks rather than six (from the point of the injury). It’s no recurrence or problem, just slightly longer.”