Yoane Wissa ACL fears addressed - Full update on knee injury & return plans

It’s fair to say that Yoane Wissa’s time as a Newcastle United player hasn’t gone as smoothly as everyone would have hoped so far.

After a dramatic deadline day move from Brentford, the Congolese forward immediately joined his country on international duty and suffered an injury before even kicking a ball for us.

Thankfully, Nick Woltemade and Will Osula have more than held down the fort in Wissa’s absence, but rumours began to circulate online that his injury had worsened after a recent setback, ACL rumours beginning to do the rounds on social media.

Thankfully, however, Sky Sports have quashed this rumour, and delivered a positive update on Wissa’s future availability…

Downie: No ACL injury for Wissa

Sky Sport’s Keith Downie posted a lengthy update surrounding Wissa’s availability for the rest of 2025 and the season ahead.

Rumours were rife on social media that Wissa would not be available for November as Howe and fans alike would have hoped, but it seems the striker is on course to return relatively soon.

Writing on X, Downie offered the following update:

“I’ve checked this again today and the hope and expectation remains that Yoane Wissa will be back in around a month’s time. No ACL injury.”

“Difficult to tell which game he’ll be back for exactly at this stage, but there’s early hope of it being the week of Atletico Bilbao/Brentford.”

“Understand that he could have been back sooner with injections in his knee but the player & club want to make sure he’s right with the proper rehab. Neither wanted to risk it for short-term gain.”

“Also told that his priority right now is getting back playing for #NUFC rather than AFCON, as he wants to repay the faith the club showed in him this summer.”

UCL or AFCON for Wissa?

January 2026 will perhaps be the biggest month of Wissa’s career, as he would not only get to live out his dream of playing in the Champions League, but DR Congo stands its best chance of winning the AFCON having reached the semi-final stage last tournament.

But with how little game time and fitness he will have heading into both crunch UCL games and the start of the AFCON proper, is there a chance that Wissa picks one over the other?

Downie hints that Wissa may prefer to cement his place in our squad rather than for his countryo, even if UCL is a possibility next season where AFCON won’t be.