Wissa closes in on Toon debut as Congo near the World Cup

Yoane Wissa is closing in on his Newcastle United debut after 10 weeks on the sidelines.

- by Dominic Scurr

The 29-year-old suffered a posterior cruciate knee ligament injury with the DR Congo national team just days after joining Newcastle from Brentford for £55 million.

Discussing Wissa's recovery and return to fitness, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: "Yoane's working well. He's on the grass, he's building his fitness. I think the knee's feeling good, no problems with that.

"It's more a case of looking at his fitness, sharpness, all the things that he's going to need to put together. He's in a good place injury-wise now to really kick on and push his body.

"But we're going to need to give him time to get fit and robust enough."

Newcastle will also exercise caution when it comes to Wissa's return and will likely ease him into action rather than throw him straight into the starting lineup.