Aladji Bamba made his start since joining Newcastle United from Monaco for £30million.
Newcastle United midfielder Aladji Bamba made his first start of the 2026-27 campaign in France under-21s’ 2-0 win in Estonia on Tuesday evening.
The 20-year-old joined from Monaco for £30million in the summer but has featured in just three of the Magpies’ opening seven matches, playing only 27 minutes in total so far after coming off the bench against Liverpool, Leeds United and Hull City.
Bamba’s bench role continued when he was an unused substitute in France’s 1-1 draw with Iceland under-21s last Friday, but his run without a start came to an end after playing 90 minutes against Estonia.
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And Bamba managed to claim an assist after setting up Steve Ngoura’s 24th-minute opener before Leeds United’s Jean-Matteo Bahoya doubled France’s lead midway through the second half.
There was also a clean sheet for Ewen Jaouen, who has played both Euro under-21s qualifiers for France after missing the last four games for Newcastle due to an ankle injury.
France face Luxembourg under-21s and Switzerland under-21s before Bamba and Jaouen return to Tyneside next week in preparation for the Premier League trip to Coventry City on Monday, October 12.
Newcastle fans have been eager to see more of Bamba but alongside £42million signing Bazoumana Toure, head coach Matthias Jaissle has called for patience.
Jaissle told NewcastleWorld: “Bazou, it's really clear. He's a young lad, came as a new signing and he's doing a great job. You see the steps now in training, he's really committed.
“It's sometimes in football that if you have other players performing as well on a really high level, like Harvey [Barnes] at the moment, then you're getting a little bit less playing time. But we said that from the beginning, especially for the young lads and the new signings, that we give them time.
“It's the same with AB [Aladji Bamba] for instance. We're not pushing, especially not externally, pushing them in getting more minutes. It's normal progress and we're supporting them to getting there.