Former Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain player Yohan Cabaye has heaped praise on two Toon players ahead of this week’s Champions League clash.
Two of Cabaye’s former employers are set to lock horns in the Champions League, as Newcastle prepare for their first home game in the competition since 2003.
It should be an incredible occasion, with a raucous atmosphere expected inside St James’ Park – and hopefully an atmosphere so raucous that it could force PSG to freeze. That is the hope, but Luis Enrique has enough top level players that they should not be fazed.
Instead, Newcastle will need their own major stars to step up and deliver on the grand stage that is the Champions League. One of those is Bruno Guimaraes, who has backed the Magpies to pick up three points on Wednesday night. He will be the club’s big hope going into the game with PSG.
However, he is not one of the Toon signings that has earned praise from Cabaye.
Cabaye impressed with Newcastle signing Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes
Ahead of Newcastle vs PSG in the Champions League, Cabaye has spoke to France Bleu. He discussed Newcastle’s recruitment and how it could be an uncomfortable evening for the Ligue 1 side.
“The pace of the match promises to be very high, this team will offer Paris great intensity,” he said.
“The one thing that I like in this Newcastle team is the desire to feed the English identity. Despite very important resources, they are recruiting very interesting young people like Anthony Gordon last season or again this season Harvey Barnes.
“PSG will have to keep control during the high points because I know their mentality it will be intense. But it is going to be a big European match.”
Gordon will be key against Paris Saint-Germain
As Cabaye says, Newcastle’s owners have a lot of money but have recruited smartly.
He has picked out two additions, one of which is unavailable for Wednesday’s game. Harvey Barnes will not feature, as he is out of action until 2024 with a foot injury.
But Gordon will feature, and seems certain to start against PSG. He will be expected to go all out, as he is not available for Newcastle’s following game in the Premier League due to suspension.
A lot of questions were asked about the 22-year-old when he first arrived on Tyneside. And those questions did not go away after his first few months as a Toon player.
But the recruitment team saw something in Gordon, and we are now seeing exactly what that was. He is enjoying a sensational start to the season, and will be one of Newcastle’s biggest attacking threats against PSG.
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