Newcastle United fans are understandably growing frustrated by the Yoane Wissa saga.
Now, it should be stressed that Newcastle United supporters aren’t blaming Wissa, DR Congo or the club themselves for his injury.
Indeed, Wissa’s knee injury was a freak accident. He simply collapsed onto his knee when chasing a loose ball while playing for his country.
Still, what is starting to annoy supporters is the lack of clear updates.
Did Newcastle United make a mistake in paying £50m for Yoane Wissa?
Perhaps they are impossible to give at this point, but the fact his return date seemingly keeps being delayed is a source of frustration.
Wissa may not play for Newcastle until mid-December, which brings the fact that they paid so much money for a player approaching 30 into sharp focus.
Even when he is fit, he doesn’t have much time to justify the huge fee. Concerningly, Keith Downie has shared a fresh update.
Yoane Wissa undertaking individual shooting and sprinting drills in Newcastle United training
The Sky Sports reporter was speaking after Eddie Howe’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
He revealed that even before Howe’s conference, he’d had a chat with the Newcastle United manager.
According to Downie, Howe revealed that Wissa is undertaking shooting and sprinting drills at the Newcastle United training ground.
However, he isn’t yet with the group and Howe publicly confirmed he was ready to start a “pre-season” regime with the sport scientists at the club.
Speaking on a video posted on YouTube, Downie said: “I did a separate one to one with Eddie beforehand and got a little bit more from him on Yoane Wissa.
“Look, it doesn’t sound that great to be honest. He said he’s finished with the physios now, he’s now with the sports scientists. He’s ready to start his pre-season training regime.
“Eddie said previously that he needs a six-week pre-season block to get him ready, fit, firing and 100%. He said he doesn’t want to bring him back when he’s only half fit.
“But if you take six weeks from now, or let’s say six weeks from the start of next week, that takes us into January before he’s in a position to be fit, firing, starting a match for Newcastle United.
“It still all seems a bit vague. Eddie said to me that he’s shooting, he’s striking the ball, he’s sprinting, he’s doing all of that sort of stuff on his own but he’s yet to join in with the group.
“That is the concerning thing for me. Once a player is with the group, it’s going to take a few weeks for them to get back.”
How many games Yoane Wissa missed through injury during his entire Brentford career. How much of a difference could he have made?
Newcastle United are learning from Alexander Isak’s mistake with Yoane Wissa
It does all sound rather bleak on the Wissa front right now but Newcastle cannot afford to bring him back into action until they are confident that he’s fully fit.
Alexander Isak, who almost missed all of pre-season through his own making, is proving that players can’t just be thrust into action after missing so much action.
Bringing Wissa back only to see him break down again would add even more pressure onto his shoulders.
Newcastle fans are well within their rights to be frustrated by it all but there’s only so much the club can do.
Wissa is one of the most expensive signings in Newcastle history and has to be handled with care.
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