Huge boost for Newcastle United as African sides name their squads for upcoming AFCON tournament
Newcastle United received a very welcome boost as the nations partaking in this year's African Cup of Nations have announced their squads ahead of the start of the tournament.
The AFCON takes place during December and January and will see several Premier League sides having to cope with several big players missing during this time.
Newcastle were expected to lose their £55 million summer signing Yoane Wissa to DR Congo during the tournament, but the 29-year-old has not been called up.
It's safe to say that Newcastle fans would have been fuming had the striker jetted off to represent his country at the tournament so soon after returning from the injury he picked up playing for his country in September.
Yoane Wissa prioritises club over country this time
As yet, Wissa hasn't made a single appearance for Newcastle following that injury, and to see him leave the club to represent his country would have sent a very poor message.
Wissa downed tools to force through his move from Brentford, similar to what Alexander Isak did at Newcastle, so he's already under scrutiny for that.
Thankfully, he has prioritised getting back to full fitness and proving himself to his new club over international glory.
Are we being cynical?
It may not be an entirely selfless act, though, as DR Congo are in line to qualify for the World Cup next year and will be banking on Yoane Wissa to get them through the upcoming playoff to book their spot in that tournament.
He probably feels that with some club football under his belt, he'll be better placed to make more of an impact for DR Congo in those playoffs than in the AFCON. That may just be us being cynical, mind.
In all seriousness, we're buzzing that we're not losing him to the AFCON so soon after his return from injury. He fought for this move, so now it's time to prove why he felt he belonged here.
