Nick Woltemade (c) and Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United on the field together for the first time during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth on January 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Nick Woltemade (c) and Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United on the field together for the first time during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth on January 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa didn’t feature in either leg of Newcastle United’s Champions League last-16 defeat to Barcelona.
Woltemade and Wissa were unused substitutes in both legs as the Magpies lost 8-3 to Barcelona on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The two strikers cost the club £119million in transfer fees last summer, but as the season has progressed, they have found themselves behind Anthony Gordon and Will Osula in the pecking order.
After selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record £130m, Newcastle signed Wissa as a ready-made replacement after the 29-year-old scored 19 Premier League goals for Brentford last summer.
But less than a week after completing his move, Wissa sustained a posterior cruciate ligament injury on international duty with DR Congo, delaying his debut until December.
Woltemade, fresh from a breakthrough season in Germany, was thrust into action and immediately hit the ground running. But since Wissa’s return, the 24-year-old has scored just three of his 10 goals.
Wissa, too, has just three goals. He hasn’t started a match since the Brentford defeat on February 7, while Howe has resorted to playing Woltemade in midfield, which has brought mixed reviews.
Eddie Howe addresses Nick Woltemade & Yoane Wissa snub v Barcelona
Asked about the pair’s situation, said: “Every player wants to play the biggest games. I think Nick's had a lot of football this year and Nick just off the back of playing against Chelsea, and I thought he played really well, so I think they're in different circumstances. I wouldn't put them necessarily together.
“Of course, Yoane’s had a big injury and I've said many times here, I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. Hopefully, that will come. I think, as I say, I'd look at them independently rather than together.
“I think they've both got big parts to play in the close of this season. We've got eight games to go, eight massive games for us.
“We've now only got the Premier League to focus on. We're going week to week so we'll be training for the first time in a long, long time. I think that's positive for us and I just think collectively we've got to focus on the rest of the season.”
Newcastle United targeting a strong end to the campaign
Knocked out of all competitions they entered at the start of the campaign, Howe’s side have just the Premier League to focus on as they look to climb into the European places.
Currently, Newcastle sit ninth in the Premier League, seven points below the top five and three points behind the top seven with eight games left to play.
And the final stretch begins with a Tyne-Wear derby clash against Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday as United look to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
“It's a different phase for us this season,” Howe said. “We've been used to playing every two, three, four days, relentlessly. The players have handled that really well, I have to say, in every way.
“I was speaking earlier in an interview praising the players' professionalism, how they've looked after their bodies, their minds, everything. It's just been a real test for us and I have to compliment the players on that. But now we're going to a different phase.
“Playing once a week will be slightly strange for us to train again, with big numbers. It will be really enjoyable, actually, and we'll look forward to getting back to that when we can.
“We hope that will help our performances back into the Premier League and we can finish the season strongly.”
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