Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur - Eddie Howe pre-match press conference review
Malick Thiaw has been outstanding for Newcastle United following his £35million summer move from AC Milan.
Milan accepted a bid worth a reported £21milllion from Serie A rivals Como 1907 at the start of the summer, but the player himself rejected the move.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri then intended to keep Thiaw, and that was reflected by his minutes in pre-season. However, his sale was agreed when the Magpies tabled a £35m offer.
The 24-year-old had been a long-term target for Newcastle having first come across him during their visit to the San Siro in the Champions League in September 2023.
Howe’s side weighed up a bid in the summer of 2024 before failing to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
Eddie Howe on Malick Thiaw’s start to life at Newcastle United
Thiaw started the campaign behind Dan Burn and Fabian Schar at centre-back but hasn’t looked back since coming on as a substitute for the latter in the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League last month.
The German defender has started all eight games since, forming a strong partnership with Sven Botman. Burn, because of injuries to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, has moved out to left-back.
Reflecting on Thiaw’s start to life on Tyneside, Howe said: “I think, if you ask Malick, I'd say he had to be a little bit patient at the start.
“Dan and Fabi started the season very, very well in the centre-half positions, and he had a period where he had the opportunity to watch and see the Premier League and see the speed of the Premier League, which I always think is helpful before you enter it.
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“Those early games against Aston Villa and Liverpool were probably the best example you can get of the Premier League's bite, really. As a centre-half, in particular, you can't come on cold, so I think they were useful experiences for him.
“Then he trained really well. I think that's always the big thing for me. If you're training well behind the scenes and not playing, you know that when that opportunity comes, you can grab it.
“He kept himself mentally fresh, alert and ready. Then when he's played, I think he's just been himself. He's an outstanding talent. He's got a little bit of everything in his game. I've been really pleased with how he started here.”
Eddie Howe had fears Newcastle United would miss out on Malick Thiaw
Thiaw has earned rave reviews for his performances, not least from supporters, who have already created a chant for the German.
Asked if he was pleasantly surprised there wasn't more competition for Thiaw, Howe replied: “Yes, to a degree. I was sort of fearful through the summer because there wasn't a long, long list of players that we felt were good enough to come in and have the impact that Malick has.
“Of course, he was playing at a top club as well, so whether he was ever going to be available was unclear. Then if he was available, was there going to be someone else that would be able to get him ahead of us?
“Thankfully, that wasn't the case and we were able to secure his signature. I think he was an important signing for us”
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