It’s been a summer of change at Newcastle United - I think that’s an understatement. The head coach, ambitions, the mood, players - very little has remained the same at St James’ Park.
Even in a tumultuous summer the biggest turnaround still isn’t anything to do with the staff, feeling or results - it’s come from within.
Yoane Wissa couldn’t hit a barn door last season. He even looked like he was playing with his legs tied together a times - I jest. In fairness, the lad had just come off the back of a major injury.
However, this season, he’s a man on fire. In a summer searching for fresh legs and energy, Wissa has delivered.
“I am very happy, to be part of the team and part of the club,” said Wissa.
“The fans love their club and love the players and what they want is us to give them what we have. They never stopped singing or shouting so that is for them today.
“I am not injured and I feel confident now. I trust myself and I trust the manager and even though I didn’t play last year I have trained a lot with the players and they know my movements.”
This improvement has not gone unnoticed at Newcastle United. There has been a sense from behind the scenes that this was the time for a fully fit Wissa to really start to show the kind of value that saw the Magpies shell out £55million for him last summer.
Undoubtedly, the Congo forward has been like a new signing. But the 29-year-old admits the best deal the club have done this summer is no player, but the manager.
Wissa said: “Of course we lost so many players but the club worked well. It is challenging and we need players to step up, like me for instance, I didn’t play last year, and now I have a chance to play. So many players have to step up and enjoy the challenge and with the fans behind us nobody can stop us.
“Eddie Howe did a top job and the new manager [Matthias Jaissle] came with a new identity and that [first goal] is something we have been working on. Every part of the game we are really precise.
“He is a really dynamic manager, so we have to give everything and I think he is the best signing of Newcastle so far.”