Alan Shearer is ready to see more of Yoane Wissa in a Newcastle United shirt.
The 29-year-old made his Champions League debut in Newcastle United’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen, coming on in place of Nick Woltemade in the 93rd minute.
The Magpies’ number nine was barely involved, touching the ball just once. It was barely even a cameo from Yoane Wissa, who will not have gained any match sharpness ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on Sunday.
He should at least be fresh for the game at the Stadium of Light, but it remains to be seen if Eddie Howe will decide to start the £55million man.
- Who is Yoane Wissa? Newcastle United’s £55m Alexander Isak replacement
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Alan Shearer predicts when Yoane Wissa will start for Newcastle United
However, Alan Shearer’s latest comments on Wissa suggest that he does not expect him to start against Sunderland this weekend.
The Newcastle United legend has been speaking about the forward on the latest episode of the Rest Is Football podcast, admitting that he hopes Wissa is ready to start for the Magpies in a couple of weeks.
“He came on at the weekend obviously then came on again against Bayer Leverkusen,” he said.
“Only for the last four or five minutes to see the game out.
“Hopefully it’s not too far away from him starting a game. If he can get half an hour or an hour in sometime in the next week or two then I don’t think he’ll be too far away from starting which has to be a plus for Newcastle.
“He’s not going away [to AFCON] which is a big, big plus for Newcastle, which I think is the right decision.
“I don’t think it would have been a good look had he played those games and then gone off for another month or so. It’s the right decision.”
Lineker replied: “He’ll want to get playing and settled in as well. The AFCON is hugely important, but if you’ve not played any football for months then it would be a big ask to play in a major tournament.”
“I think he’s made the right decision,” Shearer added.
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The score when Newcastle United visit Sunderland will be….
Yoane Wissa should be on the bench for Newcastle United against Sunderland
Newcastle United fans would love to see Wissa start against Sunderland. It would be a chance to see him repay the faith the club has put in him, having endured a frustrating start to his Toon career.
Alas, it seems likely that he will be on the bench again.
Before facing Bayer Leverkusen, Howe admitted Wissa’s fitness was a challenge as they aim to build him back up to his best. To do that, he is likely to continue making substitute appearances.
That will be the case against Sunderland, but the fact he barely featured on Wednesday night should allow him to have a bigger impact in the derby.
It is the perfect stage for him to announce himself as a Newcastle United number nine, as Howe weighs up who should start at the Stadium of Light.
On that, Lewis Miley deserves to start against Sunderland following his Champions League display at the BayArena.