Yankuba Minteh has arrived in Tyneside for the first time.
Despite signing with Newcastle United five months ago, the promising young talent has yet to step foot in Newcastle Upon Tyne until now.
Newcastle United paid Odense a new record fee for the Danish club, estimated to be £8 million guaranteed plus future cash if specific criteria were met, but the then 18-year-old went directly to Feyenoord for a season on loan.
Yankuba Minteh is off to a fast start this season. Just two months in, the now 19-year-old has one assist and four goals for club and country. That scorching start, however, came to a halt in late October, when Minteh assisted Feyenoord to a 4-0 win before suffering a hamstring injury.
The Newcastle United manager admits that loan players could be recalled in January.
Though a lot will rely on where Newcastle United is in terms of injuries by then.
If Eddie Howe did consider recalling any loan player, especially in offensive positions, Yankuba Minteh appears to be the most obvious.
However, it has been especially severe in the attacking areas, with Isak, Wilson, Barnes, Murphy, Anderson, and Almiron all missing on Saturday after the Paraguayan was forced off after 31 minutes.
Unless we continue to have similar issues in attacking areas, I believe Yankuba Minteh will be better off spending the entire season with Feyenoord, getting plenty of action in both domestic competitions and the Champions League (or Europa League, if the Dutch side advances).
Eddie Howe asked about the possibility of recalling one or more loan players in January:
“We’ll look at the players who are on loan.”
“To see if they could potentially help us [in the second half of the season].”
“If it is beneficial to their career as well, we will certainly consider what we can do.”
“Yankuba Minteh has done exceptionally well.”
“Unfortunately, he is now injured…
“He has come [to Newcastle] for an evaluation on that injury because we need to see how he is.”
“We need to work out how serious the injury is and when he will be back, then we will make a decision on him.
“Like we would with all our loan players.
“I think his loan spell has been a productive one [so far].
“He has scored goals and been part of a successful team.
“He has certainly got talent, but the Premier League is not like any other league in Europe.”
“However, this does not preclude players from entering or leaving the Premier League.”
“He has someone we like and he’s certainly got the athletic profile that we need.”