Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is expected to be sidelined for at least two months after being forced off with an injury during Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.
Wissa was replaced after 45 minutes at the Etihad following a challenge from Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
The 28-year-old had opened the scoring against City and is Brentford’s top scorer this season with three goals in four Premier League appearances.
“Wissa is not good news,” Brentford head coach Thomas Frank said on Monday. “It looks like an injury that will be a couple of months. It’s very frustrating. It will leave a hole but I will find a solution and other players will step up”
Wissa sustained the injury after Kovacic’s challenge from behind inside the Brentford half on the stroke of half time. He was helped off the pitch by two members of Brentford’s staff. Kovacic was booked by referee Darren Bond, and speaking at full time Frank agreed it was not a red card offence but labelled the challenge “reckless” and “cold-blooded”.
“I don’t think it looked great,” the Dane said. “I thought it was a reckless tackle from Kovacic. No chance of getting the ball, just took the man down.
“I understand in terms of the threshold that it’s probably not a red card so I understand that. But no chance of getting the ball, just cold blooded, just take the man out.”
Wissa scored 12 goals in 34 Premier League appearances last season and the injury is a further blow to Brentford’s forward line, with striker Igor Thiago ruled out until late 2024 with a knee injury sustained in July.
Brentford view Thiago as a successor to former striker Ivan Toney, who departed the club to join Al Ahli in the summer.
Brentford return to action against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Wissa injury sees Brentford lose best finisher
This is a huge blow for Brentford. Wissa had started the season in excellent form with three goals and an assist in their opening four games.
With Toney no longer around, Wissa is their best finisher and he has forged a fantastic partnership with Bryan Mbeumo.
Club-record signing Thiago, who is Toney’s direct replacement, suffered a knee injury in pre-season and is not expected to return to fitness until the end of 2024. It means Frank will have to cope with a limited number of attacking options over the next couple of months.
Kevin Schade will probably step up to replace Wissa. The Germany international is rapid and full of energy but has only scored twice in 33 appearances in the Premier League. Schade needs to improve in front of goal and the same applies for Keane Lewis-Potter. Mbeumo cannot shoulder all of the goalscoring responsibility.
(Oli Scarf/AFP via Getty Images)
