- Yoane Wissa scores in friendly win
- Life at Newcastle not gone to plan
- Wissa possible third man to achieve the feat
Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa returned to DR Congo duty this week after missing several games prior, including the African Cup of Nations, due to injury. He made his mark returning to Africa, scoring a penalty in a 2-0 win over Bermuda.
This was the 29-year-old’s 36th cap for his country and his first since September, when they lost 3-2 to AFCON champions, Senegal.
Wissa is in great form for DR Congo, having scored four goals in his last four outings. In games against South Sudan and Madagascar, the forward also walked away with several assists.
DR Congo will need him to be on form once again as they take on New Caledonia or Jamaica in their World Cup play-off next week.
Wissa’s Newcastle struggles
While he’s found his shooting boots for his nation, the forward has really struggled ever since his arrival on Tyneside.
Eddie Howe’s side spent £50 million on him from Brentford this summer, after Alexander Isak’s departure to Liverpool.
One of the major issues was Wissa’s contract length at the Bees, with him only having 12 months left on his deal, and Newcastle still paid a big fee for him.
So far in his career at the St James’ Park outfit, he has failed to live up to that fee, with a series of injury issues and poor performances on the pitch.
He’s only made 13 Premier League appearances under Howe, with the majority of them coming from the bench, where he has scored just once.
Sections of the Toon Army have also been critical of his work rate when on the pitch, with many asking for a sale when the window opens.
He looks a shadow of himself compared to the player he was a year ago, but DR Congo qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 could give him a surge of confidence that’s much needed in the climax of the campaign.
Wissa joins a lucrative club
The Magpies have had a host of African players wear the Black and White shirts in the past, but only two have ever gone to the World Cup while at the club.
At the World Cup in Brazil back in 2014, Shola Ameobi represented Nigeria and Cheick Tiote was included in the Ivory Coast squad.
While former African Magpies such as Islam Slimani, Lamine Diatta, Habib Beye and several others have all travelled to the World Cup, they didn’t do it while still at the club.
If Wissa were to qualify next Tuesday, he would be the third player to do so, that is, if he is not to be sold prior to the competition.
There is a lot of pressure on the 29-year-old over the next few months, from qualifying for the World Cup, proving his worth for Newcastle and then competition in the World Cup if they reach it, but fans are growing more frustrated with his performances each week, and it could end with no way of coming back.
