Massadio Haidara played for around 70 minutes of the U-23 game against Sheffield United on Thursday and Newcastle manager was at the Newcastle Academy ground to see how the 23 year-old Frenchman got on.
Massadio was signed from Nancy back in January, 2013.
He hasn’t played for the first team for almost a year because of injury and he did quite well, but Rafa is cautious and he still needs more games before he is fully ready to challenge for a place in the Newcastle first team again.
The last time Sadio played was the 6-2 home win over Norwich City.
23 year-old Massadio Haidara
This is what Benitez has said about the left-back:
“The plan was to give him 70 minutes and he did that.” “I think he did well, but it is a question of time.”
“If he has no problems, then next time we will give him 90 minutes.” “I think he is still one or two weeks away from being 100% fine.”
“He just has to keep on training. “He is doing well with us, but that is not the same as match fitness and the unexpected things you can find in a game like when you have to turn quickly.”
“In a training session, you can manage to be more careful. He still needs more time.”
Since the last time Sadio played Newcastle have a new manager in Rafa Benitez and they have also brought in a new left-back in Achraf Lazaar, who made his debut on Tuesday night in the 2-0 home win on Tuesday night in the EFL Cup.
So Sadio at the moment starts as third choice left back, but it will be interesting to see how Rafa can improve Haidara as a player.
The Frenchman is a good player but has had so many injuries since he’s arrived it’s restricted the first team appearances he has made to only 48.
So the first thing is to get Massadio fully fit.
He signed a five and a half year deal back in January of 2013, so his contract still has almost two years to run.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
Rotonda heights
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:07 AM
Comment #1i’ve never rated haidara, but then i didn’t rate the goof, colback or townsend and rafa turned / is turning them around, so who knows. seems weird to suddenly have 3/4 LBs !
sing in the corner
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:13 AM
Comment #2Rotunda
Yeah, what’s the term for a group of Left Backs?
A brood?
A gaggle?
Jib
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Comment #3I was a good left back.
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Left back in the dressing room
Munster Mag
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:27 AM
Comment #4Bingo…
Sels, yedlin mbemba lascelles dummett colback Ritchie diame gouffran gayle
Munster Mag
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:28 AM
Comment #5Sorry I forgot the bald lad in midfield
Markaccus
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Comment #6Rotonda
Just my opinion, but…..
Townsend was always a good player to be fair. He seemed to have a confidence issue after his initial England success, and I agree Rafa was the one to fix it. Gouf srarted out here as a very good player, too. His game was compromised by a string of over defensive managers. He also lost his confidence, and again rafa fixed it. Colback,though…yeah I have also never rated him, but even he seems to have found something new over the past few weeks. Maybe its the league,maybe its the manager, maybe a combination of both. It is going to be interesting to see how Haidara develops over the next couple of months.
Munster Mag
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:30 AM
Comment #7Sorry again, Anita for yedlin
Markaccus
Sep 24, 2016 at 8:32 AM
Comment #8Confirmed rafa bingo line up…
Sels
Yedlin Mbemba Lascelles Dummet
Shelvey Colback
Ritchie Diame Gouffran
Gayle
Lindisfarne
Sep 24, 2016 at 9:34 AM
Comment #9If Pardew was still here he would be straight back in and substituted off.