Former Toon star shining in Spain

FORMER Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino has been named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos.

The 24-year-old has impressed since joining Real Sociedad in 2018 and helped his side earn a place in next season’s Europa League after La Real finished sixth place in Spanish top-flight.

Merino has also popped up with some important goals – six in total – and scored in Sociedad’s memorable 4-3 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey in February.

Sociedad face bitter rivals Athletic Bilbao in the first-ever Basque derby final as Merino’s side look to win the trophy for the first time since 1987.

Merino’s performances have now been recognised by WhoScored, the largest detailed football statistics website, and his average season rating of 7.31 has seen the midfielder earn a place in the site’s La Liga team of the campaign.

While this has been a successful season for Merino, you can bet the Basque has kept an eye on his former club. Merino previously told the Chronicle that he will ‘always be’ a Newcastle fan and enjoyed his year in a ‘really beautiful city’ after supporters showed him ‘a lot of love’.

Needless to say, the Spaniard will never forget how supporters sang his song – ‘He comes from Spain and he’s f ****** class...’ – after he scored his first goal for the club against Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in October, 2017.