- Newcastle United star Yoane Wissa speaks out
- Striker criticised by Magpies fanbase for underwhelming first season
- Could ex Brentford man serve up humble pie?
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa opened up in an intimate interview with Joel Beya on social media, discussing his injury, training challenges, and his determination to improve in a Newcastle shirt.
It was a candid and impactful interview in which Wissa came across very well. The forward has looked well off the pace whenever he has played this season and has not exactly endeared himself to supporters with a few off-field incidents.
However, with new context emerging, there is a strong argument that Wissa has been somewhat hard done by on Tyneside so far.
Yoane Wissa plagued by injuries
When Wissa first joined Newcastle United, it only took a matter of days for him to be ruled out for an extended period after suffering a knee injury on international duty.
It was a significant blow for everyone involved and reflective of the club’s misfortune throughout last summer.
Speaking about his recovery, Wissa said: “I didn’t wait the proper time to come back. It should have definitely been more. You just want to catch the train, but that was impossible because my knee wasn’t right.”
The comments underline Wissa’s eagerness to return, which is entirely understandable given the circumstances.
However, while one interpretation is that he may have rushed himself back, only he truly knows his body. Questions also arise around the handling of his rehabilitation by the medical department.
Wissa’s remarks suggest he returned to action before he was fully ready. As is often the case in football, players can push for earlier returns than advisable, which is where medical staff are expected to provide firm protection.
As it stands, it appears he was reintroduced while still not fully fit, and his performances have reflected that. Wissa has struggled badly for rhythm and has often looked sluggish and short of sharpness.
That has largely limited him to substitute appearances, preventing him from building the consistent minutes needed to regain full fitness.
Wissa in ‘first proper training’ this week
Further insight into his situation came through comments about training, echoed in part by Eddie Howe in his press conference.
Wissa explained: “To be fair, it’s the first training I had this week. We are six or seven weeks away from the end of the season. It’s the first time we trained with 20 players.
“Since I joined, it’s the first time I’ve trained with all the players. When you play every three days, some train and some don’t. You manage yourself.”
For a player returning from a serious injury, adapting to a new system, new teammates, and a new environment under Eddie Howe, the lack of consistent full-squad training sessions will not have helped.
This is not necessarily anyone’s fault, but it does help explain why Wissa has struggled to settle and build understanding on the pitch.
Combined with his fitness issues, he has been operating in an almost unfamiliar environment, without the capacity to fully push himself physically for fear of aggravating his injury.
Newcastle United striker’s actions more important than words
Wissa also spoke passionately about his desire to put his difficulties behind him and succeed in black and white.
He said: “I want the fans to know the love I have for this shirt. Looking forward to next season, I understand how big this club is. I hope I’m going to do better. It’s such a privilege; I just want to wear the shirt.”
While the sentiment is positive and shows clear intent, actions inevitably carry more weight.
Although Wissa has not had many opportunities to prove himself on the pitch, and his situation is clearly nuanced, some of his off-field moments have not helped his standing with supporters. These include appearing to like Brian Brobbey’s Instagram post after he scored the winner in the derby at St James’ Park, as well as a shirt swap with Jean-Philippe Mateta after a late brace in a defeat for Newcastle.
It is fair to say the relationship between Wissa and the fanbase has not fully taken off yet.
However, with clearer context around his injury struggles and his apparent determination to prove himself, Wissa may still have time to reshape that narrative moving forward. He might be deserving of a bit more slack than he has been given to this point.
In other news, Eddie Howe ready to unleash ‘massive’ Newcastle United star against Brighton.
