England set-up after battling back to full fitness on Tyneside

Europe for a year-and-a-half following a successful trial at Danish side Odense Boldklub, which was a move that changed his life.

Just a few months later, Peter Ramage, Newcastle’s current assistant player loans manager, watched Minteh for the first time and noted that the prospect had the attributes with and without the ball that fitted the club’s unofficial ‘intensity is our identity’ mantra.

Newcastle’s longstanding pursuit, due diligence and career plan ensured the Magpies won the race to sign Minteh for £5.8m last summer as the club target emerging talent as well as firstteam ready stars in a bid to save millions in the long run.

“That’s why we chose Newcastle,” Bojang said. “They want to get young talent and try and develop them, and have a good project.”

So what happens next? Well, Minteh has been in regular contact with Shola Ameobi, the club’s loan coordinator, but with a cup final to come next month and Champions League football to secure for Feyenoord, “nothing has been communicated yet”. Minteh has simply been focused on “giving 100%” for the Dutch giants.

“Feyenoord is his first priority now because if he does not last week. “But I’m fully aware of the quality that they have, so I think it takes a real good run of form or something special to get yourself into that squad.

“For me as a player, of course the start I’ve had here hasn’t been good with the injury or what not, but I think this is the perfect platform for any player to hit the highest level – to go and perform at the highest level individually and as a club, to get yourself in there. perform in Feyenoord, he won’t be a Newcastle player,” Bojang added. “All his energy is in Feyenoord.

“Yankuba does not think that much about what happens after the summer – he’s just enjoying playing. Feyenoord is a big club, a good club.

“If he does well, he could get the chance to play in the Premier

League.

“There’s no reason why, if I get back to having a good run of games and hit my best form, that I can’t be back involved in the squad.”

Eddie Howe will no doubt champion Barnes to work his way back into the setup at St George’s Park but will be hoping to see the summer signing find his best form at Newcastle first and foremost.

Barnes, who cost close to £40m in the summer, has been used sparingly since returning from his layoff and needs time to reintegrate with his club co-stars, according to the boss.

“He needs to train for a period of time,” Howe said last week. “He is a goalscorer and a scorer of important goals in his career and he will do the same here.

“He has already shown he will score goals regularly if

Shola Ameobi is in regular contact with Yankuba Minteh given the opportunities to do so. He is a very important member of our squad and brings a real goal threat from that wide position so we all need to, with any player coming back from a long term injury, support them, wait and they will produce their best.”

England manager Gareth Southgate further seems unlikely given he still has four years left on his contract, meaning the club would demand a hefty fee. Leao has now inferred that his future remains at Milan, despite other links with Chelsea and PSG.

“My future is at Milan, I am here and I have four years left [on my contract],” he told Il Corriere della Sera. “Milan helped me when I was in a very difficult situation and they supported me.

“I won’t forget. I am loyal. I was a kid when I arrived and I’ve grown up as a man and as a footballer. I want to win again, my head is here.”

Newcastle are expected to look for attacking reinforcement this summer with just two natural centre-forwards on their books in the shape of Alexander Isak and injury-plagued Callum Wilson. There may be a significant exodus this summer as ageing and fringe players are chopped amid FFP concerns.

However, Joelinton looks as though he will be staying on Tyneside, as the Chronicle understands that the Brazilian is close to renewing his contract at St James’ Park.