Newcastle United fans will have to wait a little longer to see £55 million summer signing Yoane Wissa make his debut, but the striker’s return is now firmly pencilled in for early November.
Wissa suffered a knee injury while on international duty with DR Congo shortly after his deadline day move from Brentford, resulting in a frustrating delay to his career on Tyneside.
However, the revised timeline now suggests a highly anticipated, and somewhat poetic, debut against his former club.
Manager Eddie Howe confirmed that a minor setback has pushed back Wissa's return, but both player and club are pleased that he has avoided surgery for the injury, which is reportedly a PCL issue rather than the feared ACL rupture.
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The two-week setback and the November timeline
The striker was initially ruled out for six weeks but saw that timeline extended after a check-up with a specialist.
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Howe revealed the slight delay, stating: "We probably think now it'll be eight weeks rather than six, so maybe a slight delay.
"There's no recurrence or problem, just slightly longer.”
This new prognosis points to a return to full contention in early November.
The most likely debut date is Sunday, November 9, when Newcastle travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.
A slightly earlier, ambitious target is the Champions League fixture against Athletic Club on Wednesday, November 5.
Wissa has already returned to running on grass, a positive step as he works to reduce the swelling around his knee.
The AFCON commitment dilemma
Wissa's delayed debut is complicated by the looming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in late December.
Should the striker be fit to play, he would quickly be facing a difficult decision over his commitment to his club.
Wissa is a crucial player for the DR Congo national team, who are expected to compete in the tournament.
However, reports suggest the striker is keen to show commitment to Newcastle after his £55 million move.
By potentially limiting his time away on international duty, Wissa would be prioritising his club career and the opportunity to make an impact on the Premier League and Champions League stage.
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