'Very difficult' - Yoane Wissa uncertainty ahead of Newcastle United matches v West Ham & Brentford
Newcastle United are close to welcoming back £55m summer signing Yoane Wissa.
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa is nearing a return from injury but his first game back is still to be decided.
Wissa joined Newcastle on September 1 from Brentford for £55million but is yet to make his debut after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 29-year-old played two games in four days for his country, despite not featuring for Brentford either in pre-season or during the opening month of the Premier League season.
When will Yoane Wissa make his Newcastle United?
After returning to Tyneside, Wissa was given an initial recovery period of around six weeks before that was extended by a further two weeks following a check-up with the specialist.
That pointed to a potential return for Wissa for either the trip to West Ham United this Sunday or next week’s matches against Athletic Bilbao and Brentford. However, Howe is reluctant to commit to naming his debut game.
It could be that Wissa instead returns after the November international break with Howe reiterating the need to give the player a “mini pre-season”.
Howe told NewcastleWorld: “I don't know, it's very difficult for me to give a game for you. Yoane’s in a different boat to the other two [Lewis Hall & Tino Livramento] because he's coming from further back fitness-wise. He's been out longer.
“Lewis's return will be quite quick, in the sense that once he's fit and available, he'll be back involved with the group. Same with Tino, really. Yoane, he's still on track but we need to make sure that he's gone through a mini pre-season with us as well.”
Newcastle United new signing Yoane Wissa needs time to build-up fitness
Howe has already warned that Wissa, who scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season, may need six weeks before reaching his best levels.
United have afforded themselves to be extra cautious with Wissa. £69million club-record signing Nick Woltemade has immediately hit the ground running, while Will Osula has been impactful when coming off the bench.
“I think if you look at Yoane's situation, he will need almost a pre-season,” Howe said last Friday. “Pre-season schedules that we give to players will be six weeks. We do that for a reason, so we can build them up and they can play in various games and then they're ready to perform.
“I'm not saying he won't play for six weeks. But I think to get to his very best level, it will probably take that time.
“But firstly, before we get to that stage, we need to get him fully 100% fit and then we can really push him. He's on that road. He's been to see a specialist [Thursday]. That was a routine appointment.
“He's on track. He's doing well. So now I think we can push him a little bit harder.”
By that point, United could be waving bye to their new signing as DR Congo compete at the African Cup of Nations, which takes place from December 21 to January 18.