Newcastle United brought in eight new faces at St. James’ Park this summer, though Yoane Wissa believes the appointment of Matthias Jaissle is the best of the lot.
Jaissle came in to replace Eddie Howe following a disappointing Premier League campaign last season, and he has already made his mark after just three matches in charge.
The Magpies began with a draw at home to Liverpool before beating West Brom in the EFL Cup and then coming away with a 2-0 win against Tottenham last time out.
Jaissle is the first Newcastle manager to win as many as four points from his first two Premier League games in charge of the club since Sam Allardyce in 2007-08 (also W1 D1).
Wissa has also been a player reborn under Jaissle’s guidance after an injury-hit debut season at Newcastle, and he believes the Magpies are in more than capable hands.
“I am happy to be part of the team and part of the club. The fans love their club and love the players, and what they want is us to give them what we have,” Wissa told Sky Sports.
“Of course, we lost so many players, but the club worked well. It is challenging, and we need players to step up, like me, for instance.
“I didn’t play last year, and now I have a chance to play. So many players have to step up and enjoy the challenge, and with the fans behind us, nobody can stop us.
“I am not injured, and I feel confident. I trust myself, I trust the manager, and even though I didn’t play last year, I have trained with the players, and they know my movements.
“Eddie Howe did a top job, and the new manager came with a new identity, and that [first goal] is something we have been working on.
“Every part of the game we are really precise. He is a really dynamic manager, so we have to give everything, and I think he is the best signing for Newcastle.”
First @premierleague win pic.twitter.com/QUtz4WZXVH
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 29, 2026
Newcastle return to St James’ Park on Saturday to take on a Bournemouth side also under new management, with Marco Rose yet to register his first win at the helm.
Bournemouth looked on course to secure a first win under their new boss against Everton at Vitality Stadium last week, only for James Tarkowski to net a stoppage-time equaliser.
The Cherries had their chances too, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.16 from their 17 shots, though James Hill believes positives can be taken from the stalemate.
“It’s a first point on the board, and we’ll go back and look at where we need to improve, but it’s still early doors in the season,” Hill told BBC Radio Solent.
“We did have many chances to put the game to bed, but that’s what happens in the top league – you get punished for small mistakes.
“But there’s another game that we need to be focused on, and we roll on to the next one.
“It’s a different setup from last year, but we need to take more ownership as players to clear the ball out of the box, and it’s something that we have been working on in training.
“We will get better as time goes on, and we’ve got to put things right going into the next game.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle – Anthony Elanga
Elanga has put Newcastle 1-0 up in both of their Premier League games this season. The last player to score the opening goal in each of the first three matchdays of a campaign was Alexandre Lacazette for Arsenal in 2020-21.
In addition, Elanga has scored in both of Newcastle’s two Premier League games this season. The only player to score in each of the Magpies’ first three in a Premier League campaign was Andrew Cole in 1994-95.
Nico Dedic Elanga
What a move pic.twitter.com/BmWlLyPHS5
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 29, 2026
Bournemouth – James Hill
Bournemouth were denied a first clean sheet of the season at home to Everton last time out, which would have been just what Hill deserved for his impressive display.
Hill ranks first for aerial duels won (107) and clearances (158) in the Premier League in 2026, while he is joint-top for headed clearances (91) and second for duels won (152), behind Elliot Anderson (163).
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN
Newcastle are winless in their last eight Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (D5 L3) since a 4-1 win in July 2020 against a Cherries side managed by Howe.
But the Magpies are in good form of late. They have won three of their last six Premier League games (D2 L1), as many as they had in their previous 13 (D1 L9).
However, no side has faced more shots in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (44), who only faced eight shots in their opening two games in 2025-26. It’s the most they have faced in their first two Premier League games of a season on record since 2003-04.
Bournemouth have won their last two away top-flight matches against Newcastle and have a 1.75 points-per-game at St James’ (14 points in eight games). Of the stadiums they have played at five or more times, only at Molineux (two points per game) do they enjoy a higher ratio.
The Cherries, however, have opened the scoring in both Premier League games this season, losing 2-1 to Man City and drawing 1-1 with Everton. No side has ever scored first but failed to win any of their first three games in a campaign in the competition.
Stretching back to Andoni Iraola’s tenure, Bournemouth have drawn 19 Premier League games since the start of last season, four more than any other side, while only opponents Newcastle (29) have dropped more points from leading positions than the Cherries (27) in that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Newcastle – 44%
Draw – 24.8%
Bournemouth – 31.2%
