Jetro Willems arrived at Newcastle United on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in the final week of the last transfer window.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, the 25-year-old explained Adi Hütter’s decision to field him in midfield rather than his preferred position on the left side of defence at Eintracht was the reason behind his decision to leave the Bundesliga side.
“If I wanted to achieve my goals and further develop myself in a more natural and trusted position, I had to do it somewhere else,” he said, as quoted by FcUpdate.nl.
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum spent one season at the Tyneside club before moving to Anfield in 2016. Willems explained the Reds star’s role in his temporary move to St James’ Park.
“I spoke to Gini and he told me about Newcastle. He said, ‘Believe me, Jetro. Go to Newcastle. A good city, warm people. A great atmosphere. Just do your thing and it’ll be fine’. I trusted [him],” the fullback explains.
Steve Bruce has used the Netherlands international as a left-back and handed him eight starts in the league this season. Willems, who has a goal and two assists to his name this season, has said he’s enjoying football again at Newcastle.
“I am enjoying it. That is the most important thing. Sometimes you forget to enjoy the talent that you have been given, and the possibilities that you get. Now I do that again. I think you can see that in my game,” the player stressed.
As part of the loan deal, the Premier League side have an option to make Willems’ transfer permanent next summer. The Dutchman has impressed so far and if he continues it for the rest of the season, the Magpies are likely to exercise the option to keep him at the club.
