Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says the club may have no choice but to accelerate Yoane Wissa’s (29) return to action as they continue to battle injuries and a demanding schedule, as reported by Sky Sports.
Wissa, who has been sidelined for several weeks, came through a half-hour run-out in an internal 11v11 game on Wednesday. Howe described the session as a positive step, but stressed that the forward’s match sharpness remains a concern ahead of the weekend.
“Touch wood, he’s looked good and come through everything,” Howe said. “But it’s not just about being fit, it’s about being ready to make a difference at the highest level.”
Under normal circumstances, Howe insisted Newcastle would give the 29-year-old more time to build up his conditioning before returning to competitive action. But with injuries stretching his options, the head coach admitted the club “may not have the grace” to ease Wissa back gradually.
“His movement, his finishing, his experience, you can already see the difference he brings in training,” Howe added. “The transition to a new team should be smooth. The question is when to put him in.”
Howe conceded Wissa is “probably not at 100 per cent physical condition”, but believes his quality may still be needed as Newcastle look to regain momentum.
“We just have to make sure we enter him at the right time,” he said.
