‘Not easy’ - Newcastle United winger makes honest admission after being ruled out for five games

Newcastle United winger Yankuba Minteh admits his time at Feyenoord always hasn't been easy as he looks to end his season-long loan spell on a high.

Minteh joined the Magpies from Danish side Odense Boldklub last summer for £7million before immediately joining Feyenoord. The 19-year-old has made 27 appearances and scored his seventh goal of the campaign in Sunday's 2-2 draw away to PSV Eindhoven.

But Minteh believes he still has a lot to prove having missed five games between October and November with a hamstring injury and the majority of January after representing Gambia at the African Cup of Nations.

“I didn’t always have an easy time at Feyenoord," said Minteh. "I got injured, then the African Cup got in the way, so I was able to play less than might have been possible. It is not easy to be a Feyenoord winger.

“You have to score goals and provide assists and perform your defensive duties. That’s a lot, but not an issue for me. That’s how I grew up as a football player: first your tasks, then attack.”

“’m not done yet at Feyenoord. I want to show more of what I have to offer. We are no longer active in Europe, but there are still plenty of great matches to come.”

Magpies boss Eddie Howe spoke about the prospect of recalling Minteh in January but there was no automatic call-back clause. It's likely Howe will take a good look at the pacey winger during pre-season before deciding to keep him as part of his first-team plans or arrange another loan move.

"I think his loan spell has been a productive one," Howe said previously. "He’s scored goals and been part of a successful team. He’s certainly got talent, although the Premier League is a very different league to any other league in Europe.

“That doesn’t mean that players can’t come in or out of the Premier League. He’s someone we like, and he’s certainly got the athletic profile that we need."