Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa has been nominated for the Premier League's EA Sports Player of the Month award for August. The DR Congo international's impactful performances in the opening weeks have earned him a place on a seven-man shortlist.
Wissa celebrates his 30th birthday today, capping a memorable period that saw him contribute to two positive results. Newcastle currently sit 7th in the Premier League with four points from two games, scoring four goals and conceding two. They are just two points behind early leaders Manchester City.
Wissa was instrumental in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Liverpool at St. James' Park. He completed a powerful driving run from distance before setting up Joe Willock's equaliser with a precise assist. His influence continued in the following match, where he scored with a hooked finish in a 2-0 away victory against Tottenham Hotspur. That win at Tottenham was the Magpies' first English top-flight away victory since March.
The competition for the August award is fierce. The other players nominated are Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, Chelsea duo João Pedro and Cole Palmer, Brentford's Mamadou Sangaré, and Hull City's Konstantinos Tzolakis. This places Wissa among some of the league's most in-form attacking talents from the season's opening fixtures.
Supporters can cast their vote for Wissa via a link provided on the club's official channels. Voting closes at 12pm BST on Monday, 7 September. The winner of the award will be announced on Friday, 11 September at 1pm BST. A successful vote would see Wissa become the first Newcastle player to win the monthly honour this campaign.
The team's solid start, with a win and a draw, provides a positive platform. However, manager Eddie Howe is managing a depleted squad ahead of the next match. This makes contributions from players like Wissa even more important as the squad handles a busy schedule.
Newcastle's next challenge is an away trip to face Leeds United, who are 9th in the table, on 14 September. Fans can view the full fixtures list for the season ahead. The team will be looking to build on their current form and close the gap at the top of the standings.
