Democratic Republic of Congo international Yoane Wissa endured another difficult outing as Newcastle United suffered a further Premier League defeat, raising fresh questions about the team’s attacking options under manager Matthias Jaissle.
Newcastle have now lost consecutive league matches, with their latest defeat against Aston Villa also marking their first home loss of the season at St James’ Park.
The Magpies have faced a period of transition following significant changes during the summer, but their recent results have exposed concerns over their effectiveness in front of goal and their ability to control matches in midfield.
Wissa, who joined Newcastle from Brentford for a fee of more than £50m last summer, has struggled to maintain the improved form he showed during the opening weeks of the campaign.
The DR Congo forward was brought in as part of Newcastle’s efforts to strengthen their attack after Alexander Isak’s departure. However, his latest performance against Villa did little to ease concerns about the team’s ability to find a consistent goal threat.
Newcastle had initially appeared to benefit from Wissa’s arrival, with the experienced Premier League striker showing signs of improvement after a difficult previous season. His recent performances, however, have been less convincing.
Against Villa, Wissa missed a significant opportunity late in the game that could have helped Newcastle draw level. His failure to take advantage of the chance left teammate Harvey Barnes frustrated that he had not been played through.
The situation has added to the pressure on Jaissle, who is attempting to reshape Newcastle following a summer of upheaval. While the manager needs time to make changes, the team’s recent struggles have highlighted areas that require urgent improvement.
Newcastle’s aggressive approach has not been matched by sufficient efficiency in the final third, while their midfield has struggled to dictate the pace of matches.
Defensive concerns have also emerged. Sven Botman narrowly avoided a red card during the first half against Villa, continuing a difficult start to the campaign for the Dutch defender. He has made five direct defensive errors in seven Premier League appearances, according to the supplied report.
Newcastle’s recruitment in attack has also come under scrutiny. The club spent much of the summer attempting to find a replacement for Isak before securing Wissa from Brentford late in the transfer window.
Nick Woltemade was another attacking addition, but he has already been sent on loan to Juventus, leaving Newcastle with further questions about their available options up front.
Wissa’s role has also changed under Jaissle. The manager has tried using the DR Congo international in a deeper position, but the adjustment has not produced the desired results.
Football analyst Raj Chohan criticised the forward’s suitability for that role, saying: “He simply doesn’t have the intelligence & technical ability to play that role”.
Wissa has since returned to the centre-forward position, but his struggles have continued. Newcastle could benefit from a more clinical and dynamic striker, although William Osula has spent much of the campaign on the fringes while dealing with injury problems.
Despite the criticism, Wissa is not the only Newcastle forward who has struggled this season.
The club’s wider attacking difficulties suggest that improving their output in front of goal will require more than a change in one player’s position.
