The 2026 World Cup has seen all the big names stand up to be counted: Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and… Yoane Wissa?Yes, the 29-year-old has been a shining light for DR Congo as they made it out of the group stage to face England in the round of 32, live on talkSPORT.Wissa has propelled his country to the knockout rounds of the World CupGettyHe has the same amount of goals as Harry Kane in three games for DR Congo, and it has left me wondering, where has this Wissa been for Newcastle United?Incredibly, his tally of three goals for DR Congo is the same amount he managed across all competitions for Newcastle.He looks fit, sharp and is consistently getting on the end of things, while his work rate off the ball has been good as well.That is the complete opposite to what I saw in his 28 Toon appearances during the 2025/26 campaign.Now, there are two mitigating factors to be considered, given he didn’t play a single minute of pre-season for Brentford, and then suffered a knee injury on international duty for DR Congo just after signing for Newcastle.My argument, though, regarding these two factors is that Wissa chose not to participate in pre-season.He wanted to leave the Bees and claimed he had been promised a move away, resulting in him not playing for Brentford in the build-up to the season.The striker did take part in training, unlike a certain Alexander Isak (that’s worked out well so far), but you can’t be match fit if you don’t play games.In truth, I have little sympathy for someone not honouring their contractual responsibility.I couldn’t turn up to work every day and not do anything even if I had been promised something.Wissa ended the season as third choice strikerGettyThat meant he arrived on Tyneside following a £55million deadline day move undercooked.Immediately after joining, Wissa headed on international duty and unfortunately, picked up a knee injury.This kept him out until December, and he didn’t make his first Premier League start for the club until a 3-1 win over Burnley in the last game of 2025 for Newcastle.He scored in that match – his one and only top-flight goal for the Toon.Wissa also bagged on his full debut for Newcastle in a 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Carabao Cup, and initially, he looked sharp.But by the end of the season, he’d managed seven starts in all competitions and was firmly third choice striker behind William Osula and Nick Woltemade.Damning I have heard the argument that Wissa wasn’t fully fit, which might have been the case.But if it was, he shouldn’t have even been on the bench because what we’ve seen from him in a black and white shirt hasn’t been good enough in any way.You have to remember that he has been given the number nine shirt, which is an important number at any club, but on Tyneside, it is THE number.Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Malcolm Macdonald and Jackie Milburn are just a few of the legends to have played for Newcastle with that number on the back.It represents the players who have worn it in the past.Now, in recent times Callum Wilson, Dwight Gayle and Salomon Rondon have all worn the shirt and had a big impact.As it stands, Wissa is the worst player I’ve seen to wear the number nine and I include Joelinton in that because off the ball, he averages 0.3 tackles per game and 0.1 blocks, while the pressing numbers are well down.And then offensively, he has fewer than a shot a match and a passing success of under 70 per cent.His conversion rate is also 7.7 per cent, and he’s missed six big chances in the Premier League.Wissa has missed countless huge chances for NewcastleGettyThis is a player who isn’t contributing in any part of the game.The 2025/26 season was one to forget for all on Tyneside, and the summer is shaping up to be a potentially painful one as well.Sandro Tonali is a big target for Tottenham Hotspur and talkSPORT understands Bruno Guimaraes might also be on the move.So, Wissa has to show more.Encouraging signsAs Jason Cundy would say, ‘I’ve seen signs, encouraging signs’, from Wissa at the World Cup.His goal against Portugal was a very well taken header that showed his instincts in the box.In a game in which his side had very little possession, he linked play and worked hard.And against Uzbekistan, with his country 1-0 down and heading home, the Toon forward delivered.He showed brilliant anticipation to beat Manchester City star Abdukodir Khusanov to a ball in the box.Khusanov wiped Wissa out, and he stepped up to take and coolly score the penalty.Wissa then created some space on the edge of the box late on and bent a lovely finish into the bottom corner to seal DR Congo’s place against England, where he’ll be looking to continue his fine run of form.Wissa has admitted his time as a Newcastle player so far hasn’t been good enoughGettyIn fairness to the 29-year-old, he has admitted that he’s not shown what he’s capable of in a Newcastle shirt.Speaking ahead of playing England, he said: “It’s been a tough injury. You know when you want to come back earlier, catch the train, it’s not a good thing to do.“I didn’t show my best face at Newcastle, but I knew that my time would come, and this time is now. I just show everyone now I’m in a good place, I’m good physically, I’m good mentally, so that’s why I’m proud to show that I’m a good player.“I know how to play football and especially when I’m good physically, my head is calm and the rest follows.”For everyone’s sake, this World Cup needs to be the catalyst for Wissa’s Newcastle career, or it is in danger of becoming one of the worst deals to have happened on Tyneside.