Yoane Wissa Newcastle United injury return date as crucial deadline set before Sunderland clash
Newcastle United are expecting to see Yoane Wissa in action for the first time next month after a positive training ground injury update.
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa could just be a matter of weeks away from making his debut for the club - over three months after his £55million deadline day move from Brentford.
Wissa has missed 16 matches for The Magpies since his arrival and is expected to miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Everton (5:30pm kick-off).
But with a busy December fixture schedule coming up, the 29-year-old could finally play a part on the pitch for Eddie Howe’s side.
Speaking last week, Howe couldn’t provide a ‘clear’ return date for Wissa given the forward was still yet to train with the first time.
“I haven't got a clear, defined return date for you,” Howe said on Wissa. “He's working well, so he's not back training with us yet, but he's close.
“He's working with the sports scientists. He's in that phase, sort of moved past his physios. He's now back with the sports science team, and he's also almost entering a pre-season with them currently.
“He's doing a lot of work. He's looking good, looking better with every session. And as I say, he's close to training with us.But until he gets to there, it's very difficult to give you a date.”
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Yoane Wissa back in training - return date?
But that situation has now changed slightly, with the forward taking part in first-team training for the first time earlier this week.
As per Mail Online, Wissa joined in with a training session on Wednesday as he steps up his recovery from a posterior cruciate ligament injury suffered while on international duty with DR Congo in September. The session took place the day after Newcastle’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at Marseille so it was not a full session as such, but it’s a positive step in the right direction for a player whose return date has been pushed back several times by the club already.
The report adds that if Wissa is able to continue training with no setbacks, he could be available in time for the derby match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on December 14.
But Howe previously explained that Wissa would have to undergo a ‘pre-season’ process once he returns to training given he hasn’t played any club football since May. That would take around six weeks and dents Wissa’s chances of going to the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo next month.
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Major AFCON deadline coming up
The African Cup of Nations gets underway in Morocco on December 21, but the deadline for squads to be submitted for the tournament is December 11.
Given Wissa has only just started training with Newcastle and is still recovering from a serious knee injury having not played any football at club level in six months, the chances of him being fully fit and available for selection in time for the AFCON squad deadline are slim.
DR Congo may still wish to call up the player in the hope he get up to speed as a tournament progresses, but that would come as a huge risk for all concerned. AFCON runs from December 21 to January 18, which would rule Wissa out for a minimum of four Newcastle United matches and a maximum of eight if he were to go away.