Malick Thiaw has been the pick of the bunch from Newcastle United’s summer signings last year.

Malick Thiaw is under no illusions that his debut campaign at Newcastle United has been difficult.

Signed last summer for £35million, the German has been the pick of the bunch from last year’s summer signings. Thiaw made his 50th appearances for the Magpies in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

Having joined a Champions League club, Thiaw is unlikely to pitt his witts on the European stage next season. Newcastle’s form has nosedived since being dumped out of the continental arena by Barcelona in March.

‘It hasn’t been easy’ - Malick Thiaw

Speaking to the official matchday programme, Toon defender Thiaw opened up about the team’s frustrations this season. He said: “It hasn’t been an easy season as a team, to be honest. With the expectations we have on ourselves, it definitely isn’t a season that we can be happy about.

“There are a lot of things to improve, especially the results in the Premier League and how we’re standing. In the Champions League, we did alright but against Barcelona at the end, the second half was not a good game.”

Malick Thiaw promise to Newcastle United fans

Thiaw also vowed to give Newcastle fans something to cheer about for the final few games of the season. He added: “We can see now the training is more intense. We have some competition between ourselves, which is what a lot of guys missed as well.

“It makes a difference but now we have to show that difference on the weekend. That’s where it matters. We have to give the fans something back. We cannot give them the season that they wanted. But what is left, we have to perform the best we can and push it.”

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