Eddie Howe issues four-word challenge to Yoane Wissa – no more excuses for Newcastle United struggles

Eddie Howe has made it clear that patience is starting to wear thin regarding Yoane Wissa’s struggles to make a consistent impact at Newcastle United this season.

The forward arrived from Brentford in a £55 million deal on transfer deadline day at the beginning of the campaign, but his start to life on Tyneside was immediately disrupted. Shortly after completing the move, Wissa suffered a serious knee injury while away on international duty with DR Congo national football team in September.

The injury, later confirmed to be a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) problem, sidelined the striker for several months and delayed his competitive debut for Newcastle until late in the year. Although he eventually regained full fitness in time to be considered for the African Cup of Nations in December, the decision was taken for him to remain with Newcastle instead of travelling with his national side. The club wanted him to focus entirely on rebuilding his fitness and integrating into Howe’s system after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

When Wissa finally returned, his start initially looked promising. He managed to score on his full debut in three different competitions for Newcastle — the EFL Cup, the Premier League, and the UEFA Champions League. Those early goals created optimism that the forward could quickly establish himself as a key attacking option.

However, the momentum from those appearances has not continued. In the months since, Wissa has struggled to influence games consistently and has gradually slipped down the attacking hierarchy. Competition for places has intensified, with players such as Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and William Osula currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

Wissa was initially brought in with the expectation that he could eventually become Newcastle’s main striker, particularly following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool earlier in the season. Yet the reality has proven far more complicated, and the forward is still searching for the consistency required to secure a regular place in Howe’s starting lineup.

Despite Wissa’s difficult spell, Howe has refused to attribute his struggles to lingering fitness issues. The Newcastle manager insists the striker is now physically ready and that the responsibility lies with the player to take his opportunities when they arise.

According to Howe, Wissa is currently in better physical condition than at any previous point during his time at the club. The manager explained that the striker has been working extensively behind the scenes to catch up after months of missed training and match action. With no injury concerns remaining, Howe believes the challenge is now purely performance-based.

The Newcastle boss emphasized that whenever Wissa is introduced into matches, he must deliver on the pitch — a standard that applies to every player within the squad. Ultimately, Howe stressed that team selection will always depend on which players he believes give the side the best chance of success.

Wissa will soon have an opportunity to prove his value during a critical stretch of fixtures for Newcastle. The Magpies face a demanding run of matches against Chelsea, Barcelona, and local rivals Sunderland — games that could shape the remainder of their season.

Following those fixtures, Wissa is expected to rejoin the DR Congo national football team squad for a crucial international assignment. It will mark his first return to the national setup since suffering the knee injury last September.

DR Congo are scheduled to play a decisive World Cup playoff on March 31 in Mexico City against either New Caledonia national football team or Jamaica national football team. The winner of that match will secure a coveted place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across United States, Canada, and Mexico.

For Wissa, the upcoming weeks could be decisive — both in reigniting his Newcastle career and in helping his country reach the biggest stage in international football.