KEITH ANDREWS has axed wantaway Yoane Wissa from Brentford’s clash at Nottingham Forest – but still hopes to keep the star.
The DR Congo forward, 28, has his heart set on joining Newcastle after they had a £30m offer rejected.
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Wissa left the Bees’ Portuguese pre-season camp after Toon’s bid and threatened to never play for them again before talks with boss Andrews led to him returning to training.
However, last season’s 19-goal ace will play no part of their Prem opener and could miss the rest of the month until the window shuts or he gets his wish and heads to St. James’.
Andrews, ahead of his first competitive game since replacing Thomas Frank, said: “I have made a decision he is not [available].
“It has been a very disrupted pre-season – I think you’re aware of that interest in Yoane.
“[I’m] very clear on the situation.
“As a head coach, I want Yoane in the building, to be a part of the first-team and the squad.
“I see that moving forwards but I am very understanding of his situation.
“I have a very good relationship with him, and that will persist, but we have to focus on the players who are ready to play and perform on Sunday and I don’t think Yoane’s in that space.
“For Yoane on Sunday, he won’t be involved.”
Brentford have lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and keeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen this summer but have brought in England midfielder Jordan Henderson, goalie Caoimhin Kelleher and Dutch attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo.
But Andrews claims despite the upheaval, it is only the current Wissa problem that has caused him any headaches.
He added: “The only one who really disrupts an ideal preparation is the Yoane Wissa situation. Is it ideal? No, it’s not. Would the players like him to be part of the squad? Of course they would.”
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