Champions League striker admits he wishes he could have played better for Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

A forgotten Newcastle United man has claimed that he wishes he could have enjoyed a better spell on Tyneside after his disappointing loan.

Newcastle had signed Luuk de Jong temporarily in 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach with high hopes, but the striker really struggled to adapt to the Premier League and left without scoring a goal.

Now, after being named one of the league’s worst ever loan signings, De Jong has been speaking to The Guardian where he claimed he would have loved to played better for Newcastle.

Striker went from strength to strength after leaving Newcastle

If you had told a Newcastle supporter back in 2014 that their most recent failed loan signing would go on to play Barcelona, make 30 appearances for the Netherlands and score 253 goals in his entire career they would not believe you.

But that’s exactly what De Jong did after returning to Monchengladbach from his spell on Tyneside going on to sign for PSV, Sevilla and then loaned out to Barcelona for a year before returning to the Dutch club.

The now 33-year-old striker really regrets what had happened during his time at Newcastle where he was often played out of position, but admitted he couldn’t turn down a move to ‘such a beautiful, big club’.

It was bad timing for the Dutch international who came at a period when Newcastle were looking to replace Yohan Cabaye, a real fan favourite, and he just had such little time to adjust.

When asked about being one of the worst loan signings, De Jong said: “Really? When I only played 12 matches and not all of them from the start? And not in my position, either? Oh well, that’s the football world, you know.

“I was young. I think I am better armed now to take on Premier League defenders. It’s about your response to adversity – that makes the difference.

“I had to replace midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who went to PSG. I usually played behind the striker, which is not my favourite position. We were often pushed back very far; I barely got to the goal. I knew that beforehand but you don’t say ‘no’ when you get a chance in the Premier League at such a beautiful, big club. I would have liked to show more.”

Newcastle are a completely different club these days

The club that now competes in the top half of the Premier League and very recently played in the Champions League is like a completely different version of the club that existed 10 years ago.

The signing of De Jong will go down as a poor one because of his form and terrible goal record, but a large part of that blame should be on the club’s recruitment system and how they were bedding players in.

Few played had excelled on Tyneside during the period under Mike Ashley and that was no coincidence – the club itself was a complete mess and that often reflected on the performances on the pitch.

These days things are much more put together and well planned out as the new owners have serious ambitions for the football club who they think has untapped potential and can reach the very top.