'It's as if he closes his eyes': Newcastle loanee criticised for lack of end product

 · February 13 2024, 12:59
'It's as if he closes his eyes': Newcastle loanee criticised for lack of end product
Getty Images
Copied
Share Tweet

Newcastle United fans are quite rightly starting to get a bit excited to see what summer signing Yankuba Minteh can do next season if he gets to stick around rather than being loaned out again.

Several times this season clips of Ghanian winger Minteh in action for Feyenoord have been recirculated on social media by excited Newcastle fans. Just this weekend there was a short clip of Minteh turning defenders inside out which has fans already looking forward to the youngster replacing Miguel Almiron.

Minteh is having a decent loan spell at the Eredivisie champions and has already managed four goals and three assists in 21 outings, but it hasn't all been plain sailing as the 19-year-old has come in for some criticism.

Minteh has done well at Feyenoord but is not without his critics

It has been said he can sometimes be too greedy, but more importantly that he's lacking a real end product. Something that would have him fit right in down our right wing if we're being honest.

Sports Witness have picked up on some quotes from Holland over the weekend that backs up this idea that Minteh still has some work ahead of him.

TV Rijnmond journalists Dennis van Eersel and Dennis Kranenburg have discussed the Newcastle loanee in Podcast Feyenoord, relayed by FR12.nl. with Van Eersel less than impressed with the youngster.

“I’ve seen that in him for some time now. He makes an action, looks threatening, but then the cross has to come and it seems as if he closes his eyes.

“I do see the potential in Minteh. We didn’t completely cut him off. He’s still very young and Feyenoord didn’t pick him up for nothing. He’s certainly talented and his work ethic is also good. But at the moment I don’t think he’s good enough for a starting place at Feyenoord.

Will Minteh stay around at Newcastle next season?

While there are clear doubts in the media as to whether Minteh is worthy of a starting place in Feyenoord's side, the more games he plays out there on loan the better it is for Newcastle.

He's played in the Eredivisie and the Champions League for Feyenoord and he is picking up invaluable experience, unlike his fellow Newcastle player on loan in Holland, Garang Kuol who appears to be having a similar nightmare to the one he experienced on loan at Hearts last year.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Minteh in the summer, whether Eddie Howe sees enough in him to keep him around or whether he'll be sent out on loan again.

Latest NUFC News