Yoane Wissa

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

Newcastle United are in crisis. Five straight defeats have plunged the Magpies to 15th place, and Eddie Howe finds himself desperately seeking salvation. At the centre of this storm stands Yoane Wissa—a €57.7 million centre-forward wearing the iconic number 9 shirt, yet struggling to justify his price tag. The Congolese striker's Magpies tenure tells a frustrating tale: just 3 goals and 1 assist from 23 appearances, averaging a mere 35 minutes per outing. Contrast that with his prolific Premier League pedigree—45 goals from 137 top-flight appearances before his St James' Park switch—and the disconnect becomes stark. Wissa thrives as a physical target man, using his link-up play to bring creative outlets Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes into dangerous positions. But with only 810 minutes to his name this campaign, Newcastle have yet to see the ruthless finisher who once terrorized defenses week after week. As the Magpies' freefall threatens to derail their season, the question grows louder: can Wissa rediscover his clinical edge and become the focal point Eddie Howe desperately needs? With every passing defeat, the pressure mounts on Newcastle's misfiring number 9.