It has been a long and complicated road to Newcastle for young striker Vakhtang Salia, but the end is finally in sight as he eyes a return to training.
Among a summer of chaos for Newcastle United, you’d be forgiven for missing the signing of Salia. Obviously, with Alexander Isak leaving and Nick Woltemade arriving, the 18-year-old Georgian was never going to make waves on Tyneside.
Salia agreed to sign for Newcastle from Dinamo Tbilisi way back in October 2024, but had to wait until he turned 18 before he could actually join the Magpies.
The young striker did well in his native land, scoring eight goals for Tbilisi and getting lots of game time under his belt. But, the past few months have been extremely tough for Salia.
Vakhtang Salia return is coming
Salia touched down in Newcastle at the end of August, but he’s never even been able to train never mind play a game for the Magpies. A hamstring injury spoiled any plans to send him out on loan this season and he’s been confined to watching from the stands all term.
He was spotted watching the Newcastle academy draw 0-0 against Real Sociedad this week, and after the game, Adam Lawrence offered some insight into how long Salia will be expected to be out now.
He said: “He is making good progress. Everyone was devastated that he has come into the club and got the injury he picked up.
“I’ve not seen him on the pitch but he’s an outstanding young man around the training ground with how he conducts himself. I’m sure in his mind it’s been really tough for him but he hasn’t shown that. He’s stayed really positive.
“The medical and sports science team are looking towards the back end of December and into January for when he can start training with the group and building those levels of fitness – but we are taking it week-by-week.
“Without getting too carried away, he is on course and making good progress with his rehab and he has been really diligent in that way.”
So, it sounds like we can expect to at least see Salia back on the grass in the New Year for training. What happens from there, though, is anyone’s guess.
How much of an impact can Vakhtang Salia make?
With Nick Woltemade hitting the ground running at Newcastle, and Yoane Wissa still to come back from injury, the path to the first-team for any striker is obviously blocked at the moment.
There’s also William Osula waiting in the wings, too. The good news for Salia, though, is that Osula is wanted by Eintracht Frankfurt.
If Osula was to move on, and Salia can come into training and prove himself, there’s no reason he can’t rise up the pecking order and catch the eye of Eddie Howe.
Even if it’s just as a cup striker, Salia will be keen to make some kind of impact at some point this season, but it’s more likely he will have to wait until 2026/27 before really making a breakthrough at Newcastle.
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