IT’S THE LITTER THINGS THAT MATTER!

Muto such a tidy player for Benitez.. on and off the pitch

NEWCASTLE striker Yoshinori Muto plans to take defences to the cleaners this season.

And he is also intent on forcing his Toon team-mates to clean up their act.

The Japan star, signed from Bundesliga side Mainz in a £9.5million deal this summer, shares his compatriots’ obsession for wanting everything looking tidy.

As part of the Japan squad which reached the knockout stages of the World Cup, Muto would regularly clean up dressing rooms after the final whistle.

Fans also drew praise for taking their litter home and leaving their seating areas looking pristine. “It’s our normal way of doing things,” said the forward, 26, who Rafa Benitez (above, inset) is considering handing a first start in English football against Chelsea tomorrow.

“It shows gratitude to use their facilities. It wasn’t something we did especially at the World Cup. We just acted as normal and it happened to get some attention, which wasn’t something we really wanted.”

Muto admits the post-match state of dressing rooms in Germany and England has proved a culture shock. And while he tried his best to be diplomatic about the habits of his new team-mates, they do not have quite the same housekeeping standards as him. “I will try to clean up a little bit of detail and maybe we can get slightly better,” he added. “Obviously I wouldn’t be happy leaving places dirty, but this is what is normal here and that was normal in Japan. It’s a cultural difference.”

Muto could have been lining up against Newcastle tomorrow. During his time with FC Tokyo, he had the chance to join Chelsea. But he turned them down, preferring Mainz, where he felt he would play more. “I was 22 when I got the Chelsea offer and I didn’t feel the manager needed me at the time,” he explained.

“They wanted young players with potential and then loan them out to help them progress. Instead, I wanted to feel I could make my own progress step by step so I didn’t take that opportunity.

“So it would be a strange feeling playing Chelsea. They are obviously a fantastic club – very strong.”

Not too many Japanese players have graced the Premier League and Muto (above) wants to shatter the myth it is too physical for them.

“I would like people to change their minds, but at the same time we have to play well enough to change perceptions,” he added.