Newcastle United are awaiting news on the fitness of several players that have represented their countries during the international break.
Newcastle United have received an unexpected boost ahead of their return to Premier League action at Coventry City next Monday night.
Magpies head coach Matthias Jaissle is anxiously awaiting the return of a whole host of Magpies stars as the first international break of the season approaches its conclusion - and one of his key players has been granted an early release from representing his country over the last 24 hours.
Congo DR's forward #20 Yoane Wissa eyes the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match football between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 1, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Congo DR's forward #20 Yoane Wissa eyes the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match football between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 1, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Ghana Soccernet have confirmed Magpies striker Yoane Wissa is one of 11 DR Congo players that are now set to return to their clubs after they made an impressive start to their bid to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations. The former Brentford star scored in the opening game of their qualification campaign as his side claimed a 2-0 home win against Equatorial Guinea before finding the net once again and providing an assist in a 2-1 win against Zimbabwe last week.
The DR Congo squad have now travelled to South Africa for a training camp and played against Uganda in a friendly on Friday and are now scheduled to meet the same opposition on Monday. However, Wissa was not considered for either of those fixtures and will now return to Tyneside to prepare for Newcastle’s visit to Coventry next Monday night.
Jaissle and Wissa have shown a clear admiration for each other since the start of the season with the Magpies striker describing his head coach as Newcastle’s ‘best signing’ of the summer last month. Jaissle responded to those comments in a positive manner and praised his players for their performances so far this season.
He said: "It's nice to hear, definitely. But the lads were doing an amazing job so far. It's a player's game, like I mentioned often already. These guys are so committed, and I felt that from day one, actually, in the training in La Manga. So energised, so open, willing to learn new things, adjusting quickly, improving quickly. And it's just nice to see them running around, fighting for everything. And hopefully we can continue on Saturday like this."
Your next Newcastle United read:National media & Thomas Tuchel are all saying the same thing about Lewis Hall after Newcastle United reunion