Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has reported that Yoane Wissa could skip the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations to focus on playing and training with Newcastle United, depending on how his recovery progresses over the coming weeks.
Hope clarified that contrary to rumors, Wissa did not suffer an ACL injury but rather damage to his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
“No, Wissa has NOT injured his anterior cruciate ligament, contrary to online rumours,” Hope wrote. “But I can reveal that the area affected is his posterior cruciate ligament. The recovery from PCL injuries varies from a few weeks to nine months, if surgery is needed.”
The £55 million summer signing from Brentford has yet to make his debut since picking up the injury with DR Congo in September.
Hope confirmed that the 29-year-old “does not require an operation and, as such, remains on track for a November return.”
Hope added that while Wissa is “running on grass,” he will not be rushed back into action. “He has signed for four years, not a few months,” one source told Hope.
Newcastle are reportedly targeting either the November 2 trip to West Ham or the following week’s match at Brentford — Wissa’s former club — for his long-awaited debut.
The club’s cautious stance has been aided by the strong form of new striker Nick Woltemade, allowing them to manage Wissa’s recovery carefully.
However, the more intriguing development involves Wissa’s potential participation in the AFCON, scheduled for December 21 to January 18 in Morocco.
“My latest information is that Wissa could yet stay with Newcastle,” Hope reported. “This is all to be decided — and the focus for now is getting him back playing — but the player is determined to make a big impact for a club who showed great patience and faith in waiting all summer to sign him.”
Hope wrote that discussions between Newcastle, DR Congo, and Wissa could take place later about a possible compromise, especially given the nation’s upcoming World Cup playoff semifinal against Cameroon.
“It might be that a compromise around AFCON is best for Wissa, Newcastle and DR Congo,” Hope wrote.
