Yoane Wissa has struggled for form and goals in recent weeks
Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United shows dejection
Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United shows dejection(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Yoane Wissa is still struggling to reach full match sharpness after his lengthy absence through injury - but when he does, Newcastle United will have one of the best finishers in Europe on their hands.
That's the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who has backed the 29-year-old to come good as he continues to bed himself into the Newcastle team.
Wissa was signed on deadline day in the summer in a £55million deal from Brentford but just days later he picked up a serious knee injury on international duty with DR Congo. The problem ruled him out for three months, with Eddie Howe not able to call upon his services until the middle of December.
Wissa initially seemed to hit the ground running with two goals in his first two starts, but has since struggled to replicate that form and has scored just once in his last 11 appearances, albeit some of those coming off the bench. He has also looked short of fitness, touch and confidence.
Dinnery, founder of Premier Injuries, has moved to defend the player, insisting he won't be at the top level of sharpness even if the injury has completely healed. Newcastle are doing very little training, with games coming thick and fast and they haven't had a free midweek since the November international break.
"His fitness is pretty much what I would expect," Dinnery told Chronicle Live via Poker Scout. "Other than the injury itself which was a fairly significant MCL problem suffered on international duty. Unfortunately that setback was before he'd had any real involvement with Newcastle.
"It allowed him a period of observation and learning and being involved to get to know the squad but ultimately it's not until you're playing football and on the training pitches, understanding your teammates and the runs, and striking up those partnerships.
"I think he's shown in glimpses that he's looked really sharp and he's able to break lines and has an eye for goal, but on the flip side there's been some opportunities crop up where he's been a little rusty.
"At Brentford we saw a player who was consistently outperforming his XG. He was high up in Europe's top five leagues in terms of that output, a really clinical finisher.
"At Newcastle, he's' finding his feet, it's a completely different environment. Pressures are different, you are held to a higher level at Newcastle and obviously playing in Champions League and the scrutiny, the eyes upon Newcastle and levels of expectation are different to what he experienced at Brentford.
"I do like Yoane Wissa, I think he's shown in glimpses but while he works his way back up to ultimately the full level of sharpness and fitness he will struggle to string those consistent performances together. There's a lot more to come."
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