One among a long list of Newcastle flops originating from France, Sylvain Marveaux has finally found a project where he gets to enjoy his football.
Spending five very long years at St James’ Park, the winger didn’t make a single appearance under either Steve McClaren or Rafa Benitez last season before moving on a free to Lorient in Ligue 1.
Scoring two goals and picking up two assists in his first seven appearances for the French side, Marveaux has already equalled the number of goals he scored for Newcastle over the length of his contract for the Geordie club.
Talking to local newspaper Le Télégramme about his time in England, the player admitted to learning a lot in the north of England, even if he didn’t play as much as he wanted (only 57 appearances over five years).
He said: “It was an experience, an opportunity that I don’t regret at all. It’s also good to try something else, you don’t realise how high the level is. That’s what makes the difference between a good player and a great one.
“The last year, I didn’t play at all. I was waiting to find a club and an environment where I would have my chance. To be a part of it all every weekend. Lorient was my first contact and it stuck straight away.”
Now 30, and with a lot to prove having played so little during what should have been the prime of his career at Newcastle, the player is just glad to actually impact a team.
Since Marveaux has started to appear regularly following an abductor niggle, Lorient, who started the season terribly, have picked up a few good results, and that, as well as scoring goals again, can only make the forward a happy man.
