Keith Downie has provided an interesting update on Yoane Wissa’s injury after Eddie Howe confirmed the Newcastle United striker will be out for longer than expected.
The 29-year-old is yet to make his Toon debut, having arrived on transfer deadline day from Brentford for £55million.
Wissa picked up a knee injury while on international duty, scuppering Newcastle United’s plan for him to lead the line while Nick Woltemade found his feet.
The hope was that Wissa would return immediately after the international break, but that will no longer be the case.
Ahead of Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest, Howe confirmed that the Magpies’ number nine is going to be absent for eight weeks as opposed to the initial six.
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Yoane Wissa’s injury was always worse than first reported
It is a blow for Newcastle United, with Wissa set to miss another five Toon games. If he does return after eight weeks, his debut could come away to West Ham United on 2nd November.
Fans were hoping he was only going to miss one more game, but Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has admitted on his YouTube channel that he had been told that the injury was always worse than had initially been let on.
“Now, this isn’t a great surprise to me,” he said.
“I initially heard that his injury was worse than we were being told. We were originally told it was four to five weeks, then I think Eddie mentioned in a press conference a week or so later that it would be six week.
“Eddie Howe said this morning it’s eight weeks instead of six. It is more likely eight weeks, which is only another couple of weeks, but it is a blow because Newcastle are so short on the striker front at the moment.”
Will Osula will continue getting Newcastle United opportunities
The one person who will benefit from this Wissa setback is Will Osula.
The 22-year-old has been getting consistent minutes this season, and even made his Champions League debut in Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
He made the most of it, with Osula getting the assist for Harvey Barnes’ goal. Osula did brilliantly well, showing strength and composure to create the Magpies’ fourth of the night.
While he is still nowhere near the finished article, there has been clear improvement from Osula. That is a testament to the coaching staff, and Osula himself.
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Howe is trusting Osula more and more, at a time when Newcastle are desperately short of strikers. Nick Woltemade cannot play 90 minutes every week, while it is taking Wissa longer than anticipated to recover from this injury.
It is bad news for Newcastle United, but good news for Osula. More opportunities are going to come his way, and he will be absolutely desperate to take them.
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