Yoane Wissa is desperate to repay Newcastle United after a delayed start to his career at the club, according to Keith Downie.
Sadly for everyone at St James’ Park, Wissa will not make his Newcastle United debut before November.
Indeed, the former Brentford forward suffered a knee injury while playing for DR Congo in September. He was initially expected to return in October, though that has now been pushed back until after the November international break.
Even when he is fully fit, Wissa will almost certainly head to the Africa Cup of Nations with his country in December.
It’s a major frustration for the club but Downie has shared some interesting insight into the player’s thoughts on the matter.
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How Yoane Wissa feels about Newcastle United right now
The striker went to great lengths to try and force through a move to Newcastle from Brentford.
In many ways, he behaved like Alexander Isak did, with the Sweden international doing almost all that was humanly possible to secure a transfer to Liverpool.
As such, it’s perhaps of little surprise that his priority is getting fit for Newcastle right now.
It must be stressed that there are no suggestions he would sit out of the tournament, nor that he should do.
It is, however, interesting to hear what Wissa makes of it all.
Downie said in a video posted on YouTube: “There is a bit of a worry that once the AFCON comes around, will he be back? Will he be just back? Will he be in a position to go? What sort of situation will he be in?
“Someone close to me is telling him that his priority is Newcastle.
“He wants to play for Newcastle, he feels he owes them, he feels he wants to show what he’s got to do.”
Yoane Wissa handed a major boost for Newcastle United as roles reversed
Given Wissa’s Premier League experience, it seemed likely that he’d start the season as Newcastle’s main striker until he got injured.
In theory, he could have hit the ground running all while Nick Woltemade develops.
Clearly, that didn’t work because of Wissa’s injury. Woltemade, however, is stepping up in his absence and already has four goals in seven games for his new club.
That at least lifts the pressure on Wissa somewhat when he does return…
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