Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is confident that Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa can still prove to be an effective partnership.
Woltemade and Wissa signed for Newcastle last summer for a combined fee of around £124m but have endured difficult debut seasons at St James’ Park.
Club-record recruit Woltemade has scored 10 goals in 48 games, but has fallen out of favour in recent weeks. After experimentation in midfield, the German has started the last three Premier League games on the bench.
Wissa’s fortunes have been even tougher. A pre-season injury derailed his season and the £55m signing has scored once in the Premier League.
Despite that disappointment, Howe said he saw signs from both players as substitutes against Arsenal last time out to offer encouragement.
“Nick is training well. I think he is benefiting from the bigger sessions with 20 players that we have missed throughout the season, and now we are beginning to work on the things we felt we needed to earlier on in the season but didn’t have the opportunity to.
“His pass to Yoane was sublime against Arsenal, and it was great to see those two link together. They could make a potential partnership for us.”
Howe ‘disappointed’ for Wissa after tough debut season at Newcastle
Wissa scored 19 goals in the Premier League for Brentford last season, and Howe has said he has felt the forward’s frustration since signing for Newcastle.
“I’m really disappointed for him, because he came with so much passion and enthusiasm and he knew the importance of this season, not just for the team but for him.
“He was ready to deliver on the biggest stage at the peak of his powers and then, the life of a footballer, he gets injured and it’s a long way back from that.
“It’s been a real battle for him to get back to where he wants to be. He’s been frustrated, I know that, and he’s worked really hard.
“We have done a lot of different things to try to get him back to full fitness and it’s only the last few weeks that we have seen that. He’s now growing in confidence because he feels better.”
Power Rankings: Manchester United upward, top two collide
