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Newcastle United have suffered a major setback after new signing Yoane Wissa was confirmed to be out of action for an indefinite period following an injury sustained while representing his national team.

WHAT HAPPENED?

According to reports from the Daily Mail, Wissa returned from international duty with DR Congo carrying a knee injury that has sidelined him indefinitely. The £55 million ($74.5m) acquisition from Brentford was expected to make his debut against Wolves, stepping in as the replacement for Alexander Isak following his transfer to Liverpool. However, he will now be assessed by a specialist as Newcastle await the results of medical scans to determine the extent of the damage.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Adding to Newcastle’s woes, fellow summer recruit Jacob Ramsey has also been ruled out with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for about a month. The timing of these injuries is particularly frustrating for manager Eddie Howe’s side, as the Magpies are just days away from beginning their Champions League campaign against Barcelona.

WHAT EDDIE HOWE SAID

Manager Eddie Howe confirmed that forward Nick Woltemade is likely to lead the line in Wissa’s absence. Speaking to the media, Howe said, “He’s trained well and we’re really pleased with how he’s looked in the first couple of days.”

He added, “It’s a big change for him and a big opportunity as well. He’s got an excellent attitude and personality. He’s calm, settled quickly into our training sessions, and hasn’t looked out of place. He’s shown his abilities, and we’re delighted with how he’s adapted.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Newcastle will face Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend before turning their attention to their opening Champions League fixture against Barcelona.