Wissa Shines Brightly as Newcastle Triumphs

Yoane Wissa has found his muse in the form of Newcastle United’s legendary number nine shirt, worn by football greats like Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn, and Andy Cole. In a remarkable display during the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park, Wissa proved he belongs among these icons.

On a night when fans unveiled a banner encouraging the team to “craft the next chapter,” Wissa certainly made his mark. Just eight minutes into the match, he found the back of the net, and his relentless pressing of PSV’s sluggish defender Yarek Gasiorowski led to the team’s second goal.

It was no surprise that the man of the match received a rousing ovation as he exited the pitch, substituted by head coach Eddie Howe midway through the second half. Having faced a challenging start due to a knee injury sustained while representing the DR Congo in September, Wissa drew inspiration from such moments under the stadium lights.

“It’s been a tough start for him here,” Howe remarked. “For any new player to come and get a serious injury, having not even done a training session, that’s really tough mentally.”

Wissa’s journey has not been easy. Following a tumultuous pre-season and a complicated exit from Brentford, he has only netted three goals since joining Newcastle last month. There were moments when he appeared out of sync, such as missing a crucial opportunity to score in the recent defeat to Manchester City during the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

However, his performance on Wednesday showcased his potential. Howe had urged Wissa to “max out,” and he effectively spearheaded the pressure against a naive PSV defense, which repeatedly attempted to play from the back.

“He’s had a tough start since he’s come here,” Harvey Barnes, another goalscorer, expressed. “Obviously injured for a long time. I had a similar start here. I know how tough it is just watching from the stands, so I know how delighted he will be.”

As Wissa aims to increase his goal tally, he possesses a different style than towering forward Nick Woltemade, who prefers to drop deeper into play. Among forwards with a minimum of 250 minutes in the Premier League this season, Wissa stands out, leading in cross option runs per game, which Opta defines as runs into the penalty area for potential crosses.

Additionally, he ranks 15th for runs behind opposing defenses. Given their contrasting skill sets, Howe recognized the importance of Wissa’s presence on the field, especially after Woltemade had to bear the upfront responsibilities alone.

“Yoane’s career at Brentford was brilliant to watch from afar because I thought he was outstanding for them, scoring a number of massive goals,” Howe commented. “I loved his attitude and the way that he played, the determination and aggression that he played with.”

Looking ahead, Wissa’s tenacity will likely see him starting against the reigning champions Paris St-Germain next week. Newcastle finds itself in a favorable position as they head into their final league phase match, currently sitting seventh in the standings.

With a spot in the last 16 secured, the team still has a chance to advance to the knockout stages with a significant result at the Parc des Princes. Although Howe dismissed notions of seeking “revenge” after a controversial penalty decision during their previous encounter in the French capital, there will be no shortage of motivation for the visitors.

“We know what we can do when we turn up against teams,” Barnes added. “We had a sour taste after the game a couple of years ago, and it’s one we will want to go and put right. It’s a massive challenge – they’re a quality side – but why not?”