Yoane Wissa has struggled to make his mark at Newcastle but the visit of Bournemouth could finally kickstart his Magpies career
Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa (L) chats with Anthony Elanga (R)
Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa (L) chats with Anthony Elanga (R)(Image: 2026 Newcastle United)
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After Newcastle United spent the entire summer pursuing a move for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, they wouldn't have envisaged his first season at the club panning out as it has done.
After all, Wissa bagged 19 goals in the Premier League last season and was expected to be the plug in and play signing who was Premier League ready and wouldn't take as long to get up to speed with the 'Newcastle United way' as Eddie Howe dubbed it earlier this season.
But fast forward seven-and-a-half months and the 29-year-old has just three goals in 23 appearances and is arguably Newcastle's fourth choice centre forward at this moment in time.
Wissa missed his first three months at the club through a knee injury picked up on international duty with DR Congo, just days after completing his move to St James' Park.
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Since coming back into the side, he hasn't been able to consistently command a place in the side and when he has played he has looked off the pace.
Liking an Instagram post of Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey picking up the man of the match award and swapping shirts with Crystal Palace goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta, after each of Newcastle's last two defeats, has hardly helped his cause either.
But given the investment Newcastle put into sign him, they cannot afford to give up on him - namely because they wouldn't recoup anywhere near the £55million fee they paid to sign him for a 29-year-old who is out of form.
So the question remains when, if at all, Wissa will get a chance from the start to prove his worth in Newcastle's final six games. Club record signing Nick Woltemade has endured similar struggles and, up until last weekend, winger Anthony Gordon had been preferred up front.
Gordon was shifted back to his natural position on the left-wing against Palace but it was Will Osula, rather than Wissa or Woltemade, who got the nod to start up front.
Osula has left a lot to be desired when it comes to looking like being the answer to Newcastle's striker problems long term. He has potential but he remains an unpolished diamond. That said, his goal against Palace probably means it is his shirt to lose against Bournemouth on Saturday.
But there is an argument that it is the visit of the Cherries that should be the time to give Wissa his chance, given he has scored more goals against Bournemouth than any other Premier League side during his career.
Yoane Wissa scoring against Bournemouth for Brentford
Yoane Wissa scoring against Bournemouth for Brentford(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
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Wissa has four goals in six appearances against Bournemouth, with three of those goals coming against Andoni Iraola's side last season, scoring a brace in a 3-2 home win at the Gtech Community Stadium before scoring the equaliser in Brentford's 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.
For all parties concerned, Wissa desperately needs a moment where he sends a reminder of what he can offer this Newcastle team. His past record against Bournemouth would suggest there is no better time for that than on Saturday.