\n<\/p>\n
It has taken Wissa time to deliver such performances.<\/p>\n
Wissa, who had already had a disrupted pre-season, following his protracted departure from Brentford<\/a>, has only scored three goals since making his debut for Newcastle<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n The forward has looked rusty at times, failing to take a big chance to open the scoring in the defeat against Manchester City<\/a> in the Carabao Cup semi-finals last week.<\/p>\n But Wednesday night showed what he can bring to this side.<\/p>\n Howe had called on Wissa to “max out” before the game, and he led the press effectively against a naive PSV side, who repeatedly played out from the back.<\/p>\n That certainly did not go unnoticed by fellow goalscorer Harvey Barnes.<\/p>\n “He’s had a tough start since he’s come here,” he told TNT Sports.<\/p>\n “Obviously injured for a long time. I had a similar start here. I know how tough it is just watching from the stands, so I know how delighted he will be. <\/p>\n “A first Champions League goal. I thought he played really well so I’m buzzing for him.”<\/p>\n The challenge for Wissa, of course, is to start scoring more regularly.<\/p>\n But he is a poacher in a differing mould to the towering Nick Woltemade, who likes to come in deep.<\/p>\n Of those forwards to have played a minimum of 250 minutes in the Premier League this season, Wissa ranks first for cross option runs per game.<\/p>\n These are defined by Opta as runs to get into the penalty area to make yourself available for a cross while your team-mate has the ball in a wide area.<\/p>\n Wissa also ranks 15th for runs in behind.<\/p>\n Given their differing qualities, Howe felt it was “transformative” to have Wissa available after Woltemade had to shoulder the burden up front in his absence.<\/p>\n It had always been the plan for the pair to share the load after Newcastle<\/a> lost top scorer Alexander Isak to Liverpool<\/a> last summer, and Wissa’s Premier League experience helps explain why Newcastle<\/a> paid such a hefty \u00a355m fee.<\/p>\n