Newcastle United has received a strong blow after confirming the continued absence of their Congolese striker Yuan Wissa for the upcoming match against West Ham United in the Premier League due to the injury he is suffering from.

According to the British newspaper "Daily Mail," Wissa is not yet close to returning to the pitch, and it is likely that he will continue to be absent even after the international break in November.

The 29-year-old striker suffered a knee ligament injury while participating with the Democratic Republic of Congo national team, which was a big shock for the English club, especially since the injury came just one week after he joined the team from Brentford in a deal worth £55 million last September.

Wissa has not yet participated in any group training with his new teammates, while the team's head coach Eddie Howe confirmed that he does not know the exact date for the player's return.

Howe stated in his remarks: "His return will certainly not be against West Ham on Sunday. He is working hard, training on the grass, and doing intensive physical training, but he is not yet close to joining the group training."

The English coach added: "His absence is not just due to the injury itself, but to regain his fitness and fully build his physical readiness. I am not avoiding the answer, but I simply do not know when he will be ready to return to the group."

Howe concluded his remarks by saying: "Wissa has a very strong personality, he is well-liked among the players and is always optimistic. He can be described as a leader; he motivates and supports his teammates despite the difficulty of his situation as a new player who got injured right after his transfer, and this is a significant mental challenge for him considering the value of his transfer deal."