Many pundits up and down the country featured for Newcastle United in the 2026/27 campaign after the loss of numerous key senior members and manager Eddie Howe.
However, new manager Matthias Jaissle has been at the heart of the Magpies’ rebuild this summer, as the hierarchy have looked to reduce the average age of the senior ranks.
Such a philosophy appears to have aided the German in his quest for success at St James’ Park, subsequently winning three and drawing two of his opening five games on Tyneside.
Despite the £150m spending spree this summer, it’s the form of two players already on the books from last campaign which has allowed the new boss to maintain his unbeaten start as Magpies manager.
How Wissa & Osula have benefited from Jaissle’s appointment
After Alexander Isak’s departure last summer, Newcastle spent a reported £55m on the signature of Yoane Wissa from fellow Premier League side Brentford.
He joined Will Osula in sharing the responsibility of proving the goods in the final third of the pitch after the controversial departure of the Swedish international.
The aforementioned pair only netted eight league goals between them last term, leading to fans questioning whether they would be able to lead the line in 2026/27.
However, Jaissle’s appointment has seen the pair starring together alongside one another, with the former Bees star operating in a number ten position behind the Dane.
|
Newcastle PL top scorers (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Bruno Guimaraes |
9 |
|
Nick Woltemade |
8 |
|
Harvey Barnes |
7 |
|
Will Osula |
7 |
|
Anthony Gordon |
6 |
|
Malick Thiaw |
4 |
|
Jacob Murphy |
3 |
|
Jacob Ramsey |
2 |
Such a call has been a masterstroke from the German, with the DR Congo international looking more suited to a deep-lying role behind the centre-forward.
He’s already netted a goal and an assist within his first three league games of the new campaign, whilst Osula laid on an assist for Anthony Elanga in the opening day clash with Liverpool.
Both players appear to be regular starters in Jaissle’s system at present, with the German putting his faith in the duo to provide the goods in the Premier League this campaign.
Newcastle sold a Wissa & Osula upgrade for £250k
The centre-forward position is arguably one of the trickiest to perform in at Newcastle due to the legends who have featured in such a role during previous years.
The likes of Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Les Ferdinand have all started at the top end of the pitch at St James’ Park, making the club a force to be reckoned with.
Jaissle currently doesn’t have a player of their quality within the senior ranks, but the likes of Wissa and Osula will offer a temporary option at the top end of the pitch.
However, it could have been a whole lot different for the new manager, had the hierarchy kept hold of former star Ivan Toney and not offloaded him in the summer of 2018.
After joining from Northampton Town in the summer of 2015, the Englishman was sent on countless loan spells across the EFL – and only made four appearances for the Magpies.
As a result, he joined Peterborough Town just three years later for a fee in the region of just £250k – a decision which has proved to be a huge mistake as of late.
Since such a move, the 30-year-old has taken his career to astronomical heights and showcased the to the Magpies why they should have shown faith in him to provide the goods.
During his time at Brentford, Toney scored 72 goals in 141 games during a four-year stint in London – including 20 Premier League goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
He’s since moved to Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, with such a transfer allowing him to reach the next level in his career and net a lorryload of goals in recent seasons.
Since his move to the Middle East in the summer of 2024, the Englishman has netted a staggering 80 goals in his 100 appearances – a figure way above those produced by Wissa and Osula.
This season alone, Toney has netted eight times in just six appearances, subsequently possessing the clinical nature which would be perfect within Jaissle’s current system.
However, not for the first time at St James’ Park, the Magpies faithful have had to sit back and wonder what could have been had the hierarchy kept hold of the talisman.
He’s proven that he has the talent needed to make an impact in the Premier League, which could have been vital during the German’s first year in such a division.
There’s no denying Wissa and Osula are two players who could star in the manager’s system, but they will do well to emulate Toney’s success during the 2026/27 campaign.
