FIFA’s insurance scheme is covering the wages for Newcastle’s £55m star Yoane Wissa, who was injured on international duty before ever playing a game for his new club.
Newcastle United’s summer signing, Yoane Wissa, has yet to make his debut for the club after arriving from Brentford for £55 million, but his wages for the last seven weeks have been taken care of by FIFA, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
Wissa, who scored 20 times last season for the Bees, damaged his posterior cruciate ligament while playing for DR Congo just a week after moving to St James’ Park.
Due to this injury sustained on international duty, his wages have been covered by FIFA’s Club Protection Programme (CPP) since October 7.
The CPP is an insurance scheme that covers wages for players who are injured while representing their country and are subsequently unavailable for more than 28 consecutive days.
The striker is now closing in on a return to full fitness and has been seen training alongside his Newcastle team-mates for the first time this week, providing a “much needed boost for all those concerned.”
The Magpies, however, will not rush Wissa’s return and plan to put him through a fitness programme similar to pre-season training to ensure he is fully primed for his first appearance.
The club may soon face another prolonged absence, as DR Congo is reportedly eyeing Wissa for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign, which is scheduled to begin in mid-December.
Wissa joined Newcastle on deadline day after pushing for an exit from Brentford, filling the void left by Alexander Isak’s British-record switch to Liverpool.