Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was impressed with Malick Thiaw’s first start for the club.
Summer signing Thiaw made his full debut during Newcastle United’s 0-0 draw away at Bournemouth on Sunday and was certainly a talking point.
The German international played well but was lucky not to have been shown a second yellow card.
Thiaw could have been sent off against Bournemouth for a foul on Ryan Christie not long after he was given a yellow card for a handball.
Still, Howe was impressed with the former AC Milan defender down on the south coast during an otherwise fairly forgettable performance from his side.
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Eddie Howe explains Malick Thiaw substitution
The Newcastle United manager was speaking after the game.
He largely hailed Thiaw for his performance and claimed the only reason he replaced him with Jamaal Lascelles was because of the risk of fatigue, rather than anything to do with the potential of a red card.
“Malick did really well,” he said (via The Northern Echo).
“I think we saw his qualities, he’s an outstanding player. He has a bit of everything. He has the physical side of his game, the technical side and he wants to defend.
“Very promising debut. I withdrew him at the end because I thought he was getting fatigued as a number of players were because not a lot of those players who started today have played regular football. But they did well.”
Andoni Iraola fumes at Malick Thiaw decision
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola was unhappy with the decision not to send Thiaw off and even the most ardent Newcastle fan would struggle to suggest he doesn’t have a point.
However, he thinks Howe took him off for a very different reason.
Speaking after the game, the Spaniard suggested that the fact Thiaw was almost sent off meant that Howe took him off.
“I think it’s a second yellow, I think it’s quite clear,” he said.
“They take him out the first chance they get [after the incident].”
In the Bournemouth manager’s defence, it does seem strange to take Thiaw off for fatigue. While he did play against Barcelona during the week, that was only a second-half cameo.
Thiaw could be back in action for Newcastle United on Wednesday when they host Bradford in the first game of their Carabao Cup defence.
Fabian Schar is injured for that game, meaning the German international could start his second game in quick succession.
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