The match at St James\u2019 Park kicks off our Gameweek 4 Scout Notes.<\/p>\n
WISSA INJURY UPDATE<\/p>\n
Eddie Howe said after full-time that he had \u201cno news\u201d on Wissa, who was ruled out on Friday with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
But the Evening Chronicle\u2019s Lee Ryder <\/a>had an important update on the DR Congo international in the aftermath of the game, claiming Wissa would be out for 4-5 weeks.<\/p>\n The same timeline was being widely touted by the national media on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8Good news on Yoane Wissa NOT an ACL injury.<\/p>\n And not as bad as first feared, approx recovery time going to be 4\/5 weeks.<\/p>\n More below. #NUFC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) September 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The former Brentford striker could be on track for a Gameweek 8 return, then.<\/p>\n WOLTEMADE OFF AND RUNNING<\/p>\n That leaves Woltemade in pole position for the striker\u2019s role up until the October international break.<\/p>\n How he copes with the unrelenting schedule (Thursday\u2019s clash with Barcelona is followed by a trip to Bournemouth less than 72 hours later) and against tougher opposition remains to be seen. Wolves are, even if the Premier League table didn\u2019t already suggest it, perhaps the division\u2019s weakest team at present.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was certainly feeling it physically, I think. He said he\u2019s never got cramp before and he had it after 60 minutes! There\u2019s a physical adjustment, as we know, with this league, it\u2019s relentless.\u201d \u2013 Eddie Howe on Nick Woltemade<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But it was a promising league bow all the same. For a player not meant to be a \u2018proper\u2019 out-and-out striker, his debut goal was one a classic number nine would have been proud of: a thumping close-range header from a Jacob Murphy<\/strong> (\u00a36.3m) cross.<\/p>\n Nick Woltemade\u2019s @NUFC<\/a> debut \u26ab\ufe0f\u26aa\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/VOTFrkfGCh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Premier League (@premierleague) September 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cGreat moment for Nick. I think I was very pleased with how he played today. You saw his qualities, his technical qualities that we\u2019ve been discussing. His intelligence, but most importantly for a striker when the ball comes in the box, you need to be there. And he was today. It was a great finish. Really, really pleased for him personally because that just settles him down and relaxes him. Very humble guy, wants to do well. He\u2019s delighted to be here. I think it\u2019s a great start.\u201d \u2013 Eddie Howe on Nick Woltemade<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Woltemade had three efforts in all, two of them headers and all of them in the box. But, as many of the scouting reports had suggested, he\u2019s not your archetypal goal-hanger. While 20 touches was the lowest of any Newcastle starter on Saturday, those touches were intelligent.<\/p>\n He could certainly be good for the Magpies\u2019 wingers\u2019 goal threat, with his link-up play. One lay-off nearly resulted in a Murphy goal, while another chipped through-ball set Harvey Barnes<\/strong> (\u00a36.5m) away for a disallowed Murphy strike.<\/p>\n MURPHY PREFERRED TO ELANGA AGAIN<\/p>\n Murphy has been written off multiple times in his eight-year Newcastle career. The summer signing of Anthony Elanga <\/strong>(\u00a37.0m) seemed to be another blow to his game-time.<\/p>\n But Murphy has now been preferred to Elanga twice in succession. He delivered an excellent performance on Saturday, linking well with Woltemade.<\/p>\n Murphy even topped the day\u2019s non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) table<\/a>, seeing a close-range effort of his own saved.<\/p>\n In truth, however, Newcastle wingers are a continuing FPL \u2018avoid\u2019 with the game-to-game minutes risk this autumn.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s back four have remained unchanged all season (Howe is more reluctant to tinker with his defence) and they clocked up their third clean sheet in four games here.<\/p>\n Fabian Schar<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m) delivered \u2018DefCon\u2019 returns for the second time in 2025\/26 on Saturday, too.<\/p>\n Above: Newcastle have the best xGC record this season<\/p>\n But now\u2019s not the time to buy Schar et al, with an in-form Bournemouth and Arsenal up next.<\/p>\n STRAND LARSEN \u201cDAY BY DAY\u201d<\/p>\n Wolves remain point-less and rooted to the bottom of the table. Second-bottom for xGC, they\u2019re 20th for xG at the other end of the pitch.<\/p>\n They actually began brightly on Tyneside, with left wing-back Rodrigo Gomes<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m) looking dangerous and going close on three occasions.<\/p>\n Hwang Hee-chan<\/strong> (\u00a35.9m) also tested Nick Pope<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m) in the first minute before very nearly teeing up debutant Tolo Arokadare<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m), who played alongside the Korean up front in a 3-5-2.<\/p>\n But, from minute 38 to 88, not a sausage. The performance grew limp, with the attack regressing to their previous blunt worst.<\/p>\n \u201cScore goals when we have the chance, because we have the chances, and if we start to score our goals, we have more chance to [win].\u201d \u2013 Vitor Pereira on what Wolves need to improve on to end their losing run<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The absence of Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/strong> (\u00a36.4m) is, of course, mitigation.<\/p>\n There is a glimmer of hope \u2013 and it\u2019s only a glimmer \u2013 that the big Norwegian might be fit for the Gameweek 5 visit of Leeds United, based on post-match reports.<\/p>\n VP: We spent the last two weeks working with 8 players<\/p>\n Tolu had one session, did well<\/p>\n Krejci did well, versatile<\/p>\n Strand Larsen availability \u2013 Day by day, its Achilles tendon, we cannot push \u2013 we need to be patient<\/p>\n Sa \u2013 Stomach problems, vomits#wwfc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SkmmH0vcBi<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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