Kevin Mbabu describes moment he knew time was up at Newcastle

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For a lot of Newcastle United fans, Kevin Mbabu is the one that got away.

The full-back joined the club back in 2013 as a 17-year-old.

He only made five appearances for the first-team, leaving the club after four years in 2017.

The star’s stint at St. James’ Park was certainly very forgettable, but thankfully for him, things have worked out in the end.

He’s now at Wolfsburg and considered among the fittest players in the Bundesliga. This, after winning Swiss Super League Player of the Year in 2018.

Mbabu has been speaking to The Athletic about his time at Newcastle, and has described when he knew he had to leave.

He said: “I knew it wasn’t going to work with the new manager (Rafa Benitez).

“When I really understood it was going to be difficult for me was when Vurnon Anita got injured (against Crystal Palace in April 2016) and I was the only full-back on the bench.

“An assistant said, ‘He’s injured, you’re coming on’. Then Benitez said, ‘No’. Instead, Jonjo Shelvey came on and Moussa Sissoko played right-back.

“That really hurt me. I felt really sad and disappointed. If the coach decides, then you have to accept it but, as a young player, it was tough to take.”

Mbabu then cites the signing of DeAndre Yedlin as the final straw.

It’s all worked out for Mbabu

Mbabu has had a good time of things since leaving Newcastle.

He’s playing regularly, and will participate in the Champions League for the first time next season.

He is clearly realising his potential that people just couldn’t see at Newcastle.

Potentially, he could make for quite an uncomfortable watch for Newcastle fans at Euro 2020.