Newcastle United fans may have a new heroic right-back in town in Kieran Trippier, but had things panned out slightly differently a few years ago, they may well have been watching Kevin Mbabu maraud down the flank at St James’ Park instead.
The Magpies signed the Switzerland international back in 2013 when Alan Pardew was boss, giving him a three-year deal after seeing him impress in a trial.
At the time, reserve team manager, Willie Donachie said: “Kevin is strong, confident, skilful and a very good prospect.”
But after making just five appearances for the first-team, Mbabu was sent out on loan, before completing a permanent move back home to Switzerland to BSC Young Boys for just over £100k.
Mbabu himself meanwhile has gone on record to say that his departure from St James’ Park has fuelled his desire to showcase his talents, saying just last year: “I had an offer from Young Boys and I didn’t want to go back to Switzerland, but then I thought: ‘OK, go back, get back on track. Take a little step back but maybe one day, you’ll get rewarded for that’. So I just did it.
“When I left Newcastle, I had it in my head that, ‘I’m going to prove them all wrong, to show them it was a mistake to let me go’. That’s what I’ve been trying to do this whole time.”
His problems with injuries of course didn’t help his cause, but his fine performance against Chelsea back in 2015 showcased the kind of potential he had.
The Independent gave him a seven match rating, and said that he enjoyed “an impressive starting debut”, praising him for his “series of threatening runs down the flank”.
But, if Mbabu thought the display would lead to bigger and better things, then he was sadly mistaken following the arrival of Rafa Benitez as manager.
He
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