Merino is happy with Park life thanks to team-mates
Mikel Merino feels he’s quickly adapted to Premier League football – thanks to his Newcastle United team-mates.
The midfielder, on a seasonlong loan from Borussia Dortmund, has impressed in his first five games.
Merino helped Newcastle record a third successive Premier League win on Saturday.
United’s 2-1 success against Stoke City saw the club end the weekend in fourth place.
“Of course, I would have taken this first month,” said Merino. “It would have been perfect if we’d won all the matches, but the way we are playing, the way the team thinks about playing football, the penetration and concentration – all these things are perfect at the moment.
“I’m really, really happy to be here, enjoying every training and every match.”
Merino is already “comfortable” with the pace, intensity and physicality of the English top flight.
“I look comfortable playing football, not only in Premier League – it’s what I like, it’s what I love,” said the 21-year-old.
“I’ve been doing it since I was seven years old, and, for me, it’s my love. It doesn’t matter if we are playing at a higher intensity, I have to adapt to it.
“The main reason why I feel comfortable is I have really good team-mates who are always supporting me.”
While the club’s fans are buoyant about the team’s prospects, Merino and his teammates are reluctant to look beyond the next game.
Merino added: “Football is like this – sometimes you lose, sometimes you are high.
“We have to be sure that we do our job, be sure that we have the crowd and be strong in our home here.”