Yoane Wissa is out of AFCON for DR Congo.placeholder image
Yoane Wissa is out of AFCON for DR Congo. | AFP via Getty Images
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa has been ruled out of the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo following injury.
Wissa has been left out of DR Congo’s African Cup of Nations squad and could now be available for The Magpies over the festive period. A spell away at AFCON in Morocco would have ruled Wissa out for around seven matches had DR Congo advanced to the latter stages of the competition.
The 29-year-old forward suffered a PCL knee injury days after joining Newcastle for £55million from Brentford. Wissa went away with DR Congo and made his first and so far only two appearances of the season, picking up an injury in the second match against Senegal.
DR Congo have since reached the World Cup intercontinental play-offs, which take place in March.
The news of Wissa’s absence from the DR Congo squad comes after Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe issued a positive injury update.
Yoane Wissa injury update
Wissa played an 11v11 training ground match with a young group of players over the weekend and Howe has teased the forward playing another this week.
Newcastle Under-21s are in National League Cup action at Scunthorpe on Tuesday evening, and Wissa would be eligible to play.
“Yeah, he does [continue to build his fitness],” Howe said. “He participated in an 11v11 training game while we were at Everton. I think he'll have another one at some stage this week.
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“I've given so many different [Wissa return] dates, I've got no idea. There's been no change, he's working back, he's doing well, everything's positive, but he will be back involved when we think he's able to contribute to the group, and has a minimal chance of re-injury.
“Whenever he comes back, I'm sure from his perspective, and of course from our perspective, that first goal will be important. But I don't want to put too much pressure on him, he's still a little bit away from that, he's got some more work to do, hopefully he comes through that, and then we can see him back on the pitch.”
Yoane Wissa’s classy reaction to AFCON snub
Wissa shared the news of the DR Congo squad via his personal Instagram account, along with the message (translated from French): “I’ll be the number one supporter! Big up to the family.”
Newcastle have a busy festive fixture schedule coming up with matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, Bayer Leverkusen, Sunderland, Fulham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Burnley again coming up before the turn of the year.
Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals for Brentford last season but hasn’t featured at club level since May. His AFCON absence gives him some breathing room as far as his recovery from injury is concerned now he is back in full training and non-competitive match action.
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