The Newcastle United No.9 stat that tells its own story
Summer signing Yoane Wissa scored his first goal for the club in a Carabao Cup win over Fulham at St James' Park.
So Newcastle United, finally, have a No.9 leading the line.
Yoane Wissa scored with his first shot on his full debut last night as the defending champions booked a place in the last four of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over Fulham.
It was a proper striker’s goal, an instinctive finish from a player in the right place, at the right time.
Newcastle needed a win after an inexplicably bad derby performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, and they got one.
Fittingly, local hero Lewis Miley, fielded out of position at right-back amid a number of injuries, scored a late winner to lift the mood on Tyneside after a gloomy few days.
But Wissa’s first-half goal was just as significant.
Head coach Eddie Howe said: “A really positive night for him, in lots of ways. He took his goal really well, and he’ll only get better for the minutes.”
It was the first strike by a United No.9 since February 8, when Callum Wilson, the last player to wear the jersey, scored against Birmingham City in an FA Cup tie.
However, we have not had a Premier League goal by a Newcastle player wearing the iconic shirt since Wilson scored 594 days ago against Burnley at Turf Moor on May 4, 2024.
That is too long.
The No.9 jersey was a good fit for Wilson, who would have scored a lot more goals had it not been for a series of injuries.
Hopefully, £55million-signing Wissa, left out of DR Congo’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, will also wear it well.
Wissa – who was sidelined with a knee injury soon after joining the club from Brentford in the summer – should give United some of what they have been missing this season.
Nick Woltemade, comfortable dropping deep, has done well since his own summer move to St James’ Park, but Wissa should give Newcastle, still adjusting to the loss of Alexander Isak, another dimension as he gets in behind opposition defences.
United were not at their best against Fulham, but they dominated the quarter-final tie, and deserved to go through to the semi-finals.
“The will and drive to win was there,” said Howe. “We gave everything, even in the difficult moments.”
Wissa’s drive in the final third of the pitch will be hugely important over the coming weeks and months.
Howe’s side were drawn against Manchester City in the semi-finals.
In the meantime, Newcastle have work to do in the league. The club is 12th in the table, and six points adrift of the Champions League places.
Chelsea are next up at St James’ Park, and a first home league goal from a No.9 since April last year would be very welcome as the club looks to make up ground in the division after a challenging few months.