Newcastle United’s summer signing Yoane Wissa has been under the spotlight for his lukewarm start at the club. Despite the high expectations set by his £55m transfer fee, the forward has found the back of the net only twice in 11 appearances - a stat that is starting to concern the Toon Army.
Wissa's integration into the team has been hampered by an injury that kept him sidelined until early December. Since his return, a number of his appearances have been off the bench, which might explain some of his struggles to find consistent form. However, expectations were high when he was named in the starting lineup against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Unfortunately, Wissa failed to seize the moment, missing a crucial chance early in the game by scooping the ball over the bar from a tantalizing position.
His performance in that match epitomized the ongoing concerns about his finishing. The same issues were evident in a recent league match against Bournemouth, where he squandered similar opportunities to impact the scoreboard.
The feeling among the fans is mixed. Some, like fan John during a talk on local radio, expressed palpable frustration with Wissa’s efforts in front of goal. "For £55m, you expect those chances to be buried," he pointed out. The sentiment reflects a growing impatience with Wissa's lack of precision in crucial moments.
There's an understanding that coming back from a long injury can be challenging, and it's reasonable to give a player time to regain confidence and sharpness. However, the primary concern is that even when presented with clear-cut chances, Wissa hasn’t been testing the opposition goalkeeper enough, a fundamental expectation at this level of football.
As Newcastle United presses on in their campaign, eyes will be keenly set on Wissa's performance. He needs to start converting his chances not only to justify his hefty price tag but to contribute effectively to Newcastle’s ambitious goals for the season. There’s still time for him to turn it around and perhaps inspire comparisons to Newcastle greats of the past who had crucial impacts during their tenure at the club.
And for a little jest aimed at our friendly rivals from Sunderland: How many Sunderland fans does it take to change a light bulb? None—they're happy as long as they’re in Newcastle’s shadow! Keep the faith, Toon Army, Wissa might just light up yet!
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike Alexander Isak
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