Jaissle backs ‘amazing’ Wissa to be key player for Newcastle

Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle says that Yoane Wissa has done an “amazing job” playing as the number ten for the Magpies.

The Magpies’ German head coach made clear that Wissa, like several others in his squad, is versatile in terms of positioning, allowing for more fluidity in Newcastle’s setup.

Wissa “can play multiple positions,” Jaissle said.

“He feels really comfortable also playing behind the striker. He’s bringing another element into the team then.

“So I don’t want to stick and predict now his future position because I also want to have the open cards. But he’s doing an amazing job on the 10 behind the striker.”

In Newcastle’s opening game of the season against Liverpool, in which Wissa put in a stellar performance, he played behind Will Osula in what was an effective attacking partnership.

Osula picked up an injury in that match and has not been seen since, prompting the Magpies to sign Matias Fernandez-Pardo.

Jaissle was then asked whether Osula and Wissa would be reunited when the former returns to action.

He was coy in his response, making that they “could be,” before adding that there “could be also another couple” of players who could play with Wissa through the middle.

It presents an interesting dilemma for Jaissle in how to get the best out of Wissa in terms of goalscoring but also creativity.

The DR Congo striker has netted once this season for Newcastle, but has picked up several goals for his country both during the World Cup and in the recent international break.

For now, Wissa is likely to be teamed with Fernandez-Pardo. Jaissle made clear that some of the players on Newcastle’s long injury list would return for their trip to Coventry on Monday, but did not specify who.

Two of them will be Joelinton and Nico González, who were both seen training in an session watched by the media last week.

Osula was still absent, suggesting that he is likely to miss the trip to meet Frank Lampard’s side.