One red card, one trophy win and one uncertain summer for Newcastle United’s Yankuba Minteh

One red card, one trophy win and one uncertain summer for Newcastle United’s Yankuba Minteh

There was dressing room dancing and dressing gown celebrations for Yankuba Minteh and his Feyenoord co-stars after lifting the KNVB Cup on Sunday afternoon – but the Newcastle United loanee thought he had cost his loan club their trophy chances with a second-half sending off in Rotterdam.

Minteh has finally found his feet at the Eredivisie giants after a tricky start to his temporary switch. The 19-year-old winger is undoubtedly rough around the edges and will benefit from the improvement that comes with age but has emerged as a regular for Arne Slot’s side in recent months.

Minteh was given the nod from the start in Sunday’s Dutch Cup final, with Feyenoord beating NEC 1-0 at their home ground, De Kuip. Though the Newcastle attacker had to watch the final stages of the tie through his fingers and from the sidelines after being shown two yellow cards inside two minutes midway through the second period.

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The first booking arrived in the 71st minute and the second just 60 seconds later as Minteh trudged off the pitch, holding back tears and covering his face with his shirt. There was a comforting arm around the shoulder from one member of Feyenoord’s coaching staff and then 28 agonising minutes of normal and added time to sit and suffer through.

All that worry turned to wonder, however, with Feyenoord holding on to spare Minteh’s blushes. The teenager looked happier than any of his team-mates as they paraded the trophy around the stadium wearing matching green dressing gowns.

The party continued in the Feyenoord dressing room, with Slot’s players pictured celebrating their achievement behind the scenes. The footage that has emerged on social media since the final whistle shows a Newcastle player who looks incredibly comfortable in his temporary surroundings.

“Yes, I am a Newcastle player, but at the moment my focus is on Feyenoord,” Minteh said earlier this month. “Would I like to play for Feyenoord next season? I don’t know. I can’t say. It’s a great club. If I have the chance of course I would stay. It depends on what Newcastle is going to decide. Not me.”

Feyenoord certainly want to keep Minteh around, which isn’t a surprise given his record of 10 goals and 33 appearances during his debut Dutch campaign. Talks have been set for this month between the two clubs to see whether a further deal can be struck for the youngster, who has been nominated for the 2024 Golden Boy award.

Newcastle have suffered through well-documented financial restrictions in recent months, with speculation rife that current players may need to leave before new additions arrive. Minteh, who was signed for around £6m last summer, could proof to be a profitable exit option should Eddie Howe decide to take such a course of action.

Another year out on loan seems to be the most likely option, with Minteh grasping his first loan stint with both hands. Howe currently has significant options on the right of his midfield and will want to take a look at the youngster’s recent development before making a decision on his immediate future.

View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/one-red-card-one-trophy-29037808

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