Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored as many goals for Sweden and DR Congo at the World Cup as they managed in an entire first season at Newcastle United – five. It is a statistic that offers the club a flicker of hope after a summer of expensive signings who largely failed to deliver.
Newcastle appeared to have cracked the transfer code with hits such as Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn. But last summer, aside from defender Malick Thiaw, the club did not see enough of an immediate return from a £100m-plus net spend. As head coach Eddie Howe said in one of his final news conferences of the season: “I believe in all those signings. I think they will come good.”
“Elanga and Wissa matched their season goal tally at the World Cup, offering Newcastle hope after a poor first year.”
The coming months will test that belief, but Elanga and Wissa at least offered positive signs at the World Cup. The pair looked closer to the players who first caught Newcastle’s attention at Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively.
Elanga entered Sweden’s second group game with his side already 4-0 down against the Netherlands. Within four minutes he had raced through a blistering counter-attack and scored. He then started against Japan, cutting inside and curling an equaliser. Sweden bowed out in the last 32 after a 3-0 defeat to France, but Elanga emerged with credit. “He’s the kind of player that can change a game,” said former Newcastle and Sweden team-mate Emil Krafth.
The forward showed that ability at Forest, but found it a challenge adapting to Newcastle’s detailed system, even after a full pre-season. There were flashes – a double in the Nou Camp in the Champions League knockout stages, and he caused Liverpool and Barcelona problems with his pace at St James’ Park – only for a team-mate to fail to finish his crosses. It did not consistently come together, especially against low blocks. There were some bruising moments.