Nantes midfielder Mehdi Abeid has revealed how a foot injury ruined his time at Newcastle United.
Abeid originally joined Newcastle in the summer of 2011, joining on a free transfer from French side Lens’ B team.
He would spend time out on loan in the intervening years, enjoying a six-month spell at St Johnstone and then a year with Panathinaikos.
His time with the Greek side was a resounding success, as he established himself in the first team and managed ten goals and six assists in 38 games that year.
That saw him returning to Newcastle full of confidence and believing he could establish himself in the first team, something he managed, making 16 appearances that year.
However, a toe injury suffered on international duty saw him miss the entirety of December that year, and despite playing after it, he believes the injury scuppered his chances of success at St James Park.
“I’m headed back to Newcastle, and at Burnley, I’m playing with a broken toe with an injection,” he told 20 Minutes.
“At the end of the match, I couldn’t walk. I was away for several months. That put a damper on my experience in Newcastle.
“I could have played all season there, I was confident. I loved my life there.”
