SHEARER SAYS THE END MAY BE NEAR FOR HOWE
NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe has played down talk that Yoane Wissa will be sold for a cutprice fee this summer.
The £55million forward has not started a game for more than two months and last scored a goal in January in the Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven.
He has since been linked with moves to Turkey next summer, while Eddie Howe has done little to quash talk on his future by leaving him on the bench.
Wissa did not play a single minute in the inept defeat to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday at St James’ Park, remaining on the bench throughout as the Magpies toiled.
It comes after he was given seconds as a late substitute at Crystal Palace, only thrust into the action after the home side’s late penalty
But asked why Wissa has not had an opportunity, Howe said on Friday: “He’s had a very difficult season and I think the most difficult part for Yoane is that he got back fit and of course there was a huge feeling inside of him that he wanted to rush back and show everyone how good he is, and then we haven’t been able to train him how we would normally train him.
“It’s very small groups, game every two or three days, stop-start for him, he was never able to get a rhythm.
“We’ve probably seen the best of him in his time at Newcastle this week, we’ve been pleased with him physically.” But Howe then went on against the Cherries to leave him on the sidelines and it remains to be seen whether he will feature against Arsenal on Saturday night at the Emirates Stadium.
Howe insisted: “I still think there’s loads more to come. I feel a pre-season would definitely help him.
“You’ll see a totally different player with a really sustained period where he’s able to do what he needs to do.
“He’s been trying, he’s been really wanting to make a difference. There have been physical things stopping him from doing that.
“No injury, just time on the pitch, he needs training to get his body up to full speed.
“The best is yet to come.”