By CRAIG HOPE, CHIEF FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 13:19, 31 October 2025 | Updated: 13:19, 31 October 2025

Yoane Wissa is 'not close' to a Newcastle return and looks set to miss his proposed comeback date this side of the November international break.

The 29-year-old suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury playing for DR Congo just a week after signing from Brentford in a £55million deal on September 1.

Wissa is yet to train with his new team-mates and Eddie Howe does not know when that will be, despite hope earlier this month of him featuring over the next week.

The Newcastle boss said: 'It (his comeback) is definitely not West Ham (on Sunday). He's working very hard. He's on the grass. He's getting the fitness work in that he needs.

'I'd say he's not close to training with the group at the moment, not through injury but through fitness, and making sure we build his robustness. I'm not trying to be evasive. I don't know when the moment will be when he's back with the squad.'

Newcastle host Athletic Bilbao...