Howe Supports Woltemade and Wissa to Regain Newcastle’s Form

Eddie Howe has expressed confidence in summer signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa to regain their performance levels at Newcastle.

Woltemade and Wissa joined the club for a total of £124 million last summer, funded by the sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

Woltemade started strong but has since struggled, while Wissa missed the early part of the season due to injury and has not yet returned to top form. Together, they have contributed only eight Premier League goals, raising questions about Newcastle’s recruitment strategy.

Despite this, Howe believes both players will improve. Ahead of Newcastle’s match against Brentford, he noted that Woltemade is still getting used to the pace of English football.

“He is young, and this is a new league. He began well, but maintaining that form is challenging. He is learning about the Premier League’s speed, intensity, and physical demands. Teams are adapting to him, which presents its own challenges. He needs to find new ways to succeed now that teams understand his style,” Howe said.

“What stands out is his positive attitude, which is essential for his success.”

Howe also mentioned that Wissa’s knee injury has affected him this season. The DR Congo international hopes to see improvement in his performance against his former club, Brentford, in the upcoming match.

“I am optimistic he will improve as the season progresses. Sadly, there’s no quick fix for his physical state. He joined us without regular training and then faced a serious injury. He is eager to get fit and make an impact with his new team,” Howe added.

“He is fit now, but it’s about regaining match sharpness, which can be tough. His talent and scoring ability are still intact; it’s just about finding that final edge in his game, which will come with time.”