Newcastle United youngster, Kevin Mbabu, continues to impress during his loan spell in Switzerland, racking up another assist & man of the match in BSC Young Boys’ win over the weekend.
Mbabu was handed a two-year contract extension by the club last summer and had been tipped to play a role in Newcastle’s Championship campaign after excelling at U-21 level & holding his own in first-team appearances in the Premier League last season.
The 21 year-old was said to have impressed Rafa Benitez, however, the club felt a loan move away was suitable to give the youngster regular minutes in a bid to improve his injury problems, seeing him join Swiss league giants, BSC Young Boys.
The energetic right-back has made 13 appearances for Young Boys this season, scoring twice and registering four assists. One concern however has been his over exuberant style, which may serve him well offensively, but has seen him rack up 7 yellow cards and 1 red card in just 13 games.
His latest eye-catching display came on Saturday and has not gone unnoticed, as the match report in German Newspaper ‘B.Z.’ had the following to say:
“Kevin Mbabu. The most striking Young Boys player. As always (he was) powerful, energetic, very robust and dribble-happy. Prepared the second goal wisely.”
It is noteworthy that the match report suggested he was powerful, energetic, robust and dribble-happy (‘as always’), offering some insightful praise, highlighting some valuable traits possessed by the young full-back.
If these highlights are anything to go by, you can see just why he is being talked up is an exciting young prospect:
⚽️????#BeastMode
Video made by @timbelsi ?? pic.twitter.com/0TuOmScNhs— Kevin Mbabu (@Kevin_Baboo) October 28, 2016
Newcastle fans have seen little of 21 year-old, who’s played just 5 games for The Magpies, but his breakthrough performance came in a baptism of fire against Chelsea back in September 2015 at St.James’ Park. Naturally a right-back, Mbabu started at left-back that day, nullifying the threats of world class wingers, Pedro and Eden Hazard, in a tenacious, man of the match display.
It remains to be seen whether the youngster’s long term future lies at Newcastle, but he certainly looks to have something.
Standing six feet tall, with good strength and pace, Mbabu possesses the ideal traits of a promising full-back and appears to be doing the right things to potentially force his way into Rafa Benitez’s plans when he returns to NUFC over the summer.