Newcastle's £124m striker investment fails to deliver answers
Wissa trailed only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in non-penalty goals for Brentford last season, yet has struggled to replicate that form at Newcastle
- Published
The player wearing Newcastle United's storied number nine shirt basked in the applause at full-time, but it wasn't at St James' Park.
Yoane Wissa stood at Selhurst Park wearing the famous jersey after swapping with Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, his former Chateauroux teammate who had just sealed a 2-1 victory with a dramatic late brace.
The contrast between the two substitutes told its own story. Mateta transformed the match within minutes of entering. Wissa, introduced deep into stoppage time after his friend's second goal, never touched the ball.
Fellow summer signing Nick Woltemade fared only marginally better, given six minutes up front after coming on in the 84th minute.
Despite costing a combined £124m, neither Wissa nor Woltemade could force their way into Eddie Howe's thinking. The head coach made his selection criteria clear: training ground performance trumps transfer fees.
Howe's explanation for starting goalscorer William Osula instead proved instructive. "He's got the physical attributes, the determination to do really well," Howe said. "He's improving week in, week out."
The subtext was unmistakable.
Isak departure still being felt
Osula's unexpected recall represents the latest chapter in Newcastle's ongoing search for a striker solution, seven months after Alexander Isak's departure left a void the club has yet to fill.
Finding a direct replacement for Isak was always going to be difficult after he forced through a British record £125m move to Liverpool. Internally, the task was deemed "impossible."
Howe's strategy centered on recruiting two forwards to share the burden left by Isak and the departing Callum Wilson. The club acknowledged Woltemade had previously attracted interest from Bayern Munich, and that Newcastle had pursued other targets—Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, and Benjamin Sesko—without success.
Yet the £69m deal for Woltemade appeared vindicated when he netted five goals in his opening six starts. His shot conversion rate of 23% remains among the Premier League's best for players with at least 30 attempts this season.
The puzzle deepened when Woltemade, a technically gifted forward, began appearing more frequently in midfield during captain Bruno Guimaraes' injury absence. Coaching staff privately expressed frustration about lacking time to develop his attacking instincts.
That should change as the fixture congestion eases in coming weeks. But Howe's system has historically demanded a pacey striker capable of running in behind and leading the press—attributes that don't naturally align with Woltemade's skill set.
While Woltemade adapts to a more intense, physical league after his Stuttgart move, Newcastle face their own adjustment: building a system that maximizes his strengths rather than exposing his limitations.
Newcastle are 'underwhelming' but is Woltemade a problem?
- Published3 March
Wissa's struggles and a turbulent summer
Wissa arrived with Premier League pedigree, expected to share the scoring load. His start at Newcastle was far from smooth.
After agitating for a move away from Brentford, the forward missed pre-season entirely. Days after signing, he picked up a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo.
Two goals in his opening two starts suggested promise. Since then, he's managed just one.
The situation grew telling when winger Anthony Gordon was deployed centrally ahead of Wissa, before Osula eventually earned his opportunity.
Howe's recruitment has typically been shrewd, but a desperate £55m outlay hasn't delivered the expected returns.
The same applies to last summer's £100m-plus net spend.
That chaotic window saw Newcastle miss primary targets, operate without a sporting director or chief executive, and complete most signings after the season had begun.
Howe drove much of that recruitment. Yet only one of five outfield additions—Malick Thiaw—started against Palace.
Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga should contend for recalls when Bournemouth visit Saturday, having been benched alongside Woltemade and Wissa at Selhurst Park.
Howe wasn't proactive with his substitutions—even after Jefferson Lerma's header rattled the crossbar as a second-half warning.
Oliver Glasner seized the initiative instead, his changes turning the match.
'We have to work with the personnel we have'
Closing out matches has plagued Newcastle throughout a punishing season.
They retreat and ship late goals, but equally fail to capitalize when ahead.
Only Manchester City have scored more first-half goals than Newcastle (24) this Premier League campaign.
Yet no side has squandered more points from winning positions (25).
Palace wing-back Tyrick Mitchell "knew we were going to get chances" as his team completed the comeback.
This defeat dropped Newcastle to 14th and intensified scrutiny on Howe's position.
"Sometimes personnel is the only thing that changes something," he said.
"But we have to work with the personnel that we have and we're very proud to do that. We've got a very good squad."
