Yoane Wissa announced his arrival at Newcastle United in emphatic fashion, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over Fulham in a League Cup quarter-final that underlined both his quality and his resilience after a difficult spell on the sidelines.
Handed his first start since joining the club, the Congolese international striker needed little time to make an impression.
Just ten minutes into the contest, Wissa found the net to give Newcastle an early advantage, setting the tone for a performance that blended energy, sharp movement and growing confidence.
He remained on the pitch for 72 minutes, a significant milestone for a player still rebuilding rhythm after injury.
The goal carried personal meaning for Wissa, who was visibly relieved and proud after the final whistle.
“I scored my first goal for the club and it’s something special for me. I’m where I wanted to be and I need to be here, but I’m obviously very happy. It’s my story and it’s following the same path. I always want to score, unfortunately I was injured, but when you come back from injury after a period of intense work with the medical staff and this goal is for them. I really want to thank them because when injured players arrive, especially when you don’t really know them, you have to work hard and I really want to thank them,” he said.
Those words reflected more than the joy of a debut goal.
Wissa’s journey to this moment has been shaped by patience and perseverance.
Signed for a reported €57.7 million, he arrived at Newcastle with high expectations but was soon forced to put his ambitions on hold after sustaining an injury during a World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.
Despite scoring in that 3-2 defeat, the setback proved costly, ruling him out of immediate club involvement and leading to a mutual decision with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s coaching staff to miss the Africa Cup of Nations in order to focus fully on recovery.
The decision, while difficult, now appears vindicated.
Wissa’s sharpness against Fulham suggested a player physically ready and mentally refreshed, eager to make up for lost time.
His intelligent positioning for the opening goal and willingness to press defenders fitted seamlessly into Newcastle’s attacking approach, giving supporters an early glimpse of the impact he could have as the season progresses.
For Newcastle, the victory secured a place in the semi-finals and offered further encouragement that their investment is beginning to pay dividends.
For Wissa, it marked the symbolic start of his career in black and white, a moment he had been waiting for since his arrival.
With fitness steadily improving and confidence restored, the striker now faces the challenge of building consistency and competing for a regular place in the starting line-up.
If his first goal is any indication, Wissa’s story at Newcastle is only just beginning.
