Thursday, 21st February, 2013
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is slightly concerned about his lack of playing time at Newcastle United, with the Frenchman having expected to replace Fabricio Coloccini in the Magpies’ backline when he arrived from Montpellier in January, something which may have to wait until the summer.
Coloccini was keen to leave the Magpies to head back to Argentina and was expected to do so last month, which would have seen Yanga-Mbiwa slot in as his replacement.
However, the Argentine is staying until at least the summer, when he is then expected to leave, given his wife’s unhappiness in the north of England.
Yanga-Mbiwa has made just two appearances for his new club in the Premier League, both from the bench, and sources close to the 23-year-old have explained he is growing concerned, even if he would not admit it in public, due to not wanting to rock the boat.
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"He’s working like crazy", one of his representatives told L’Equipe.
"He expected to be in the team. He left [Montpellier] to develop.
"Mapou is not one to complain, to panic. But if he does not play more, he may no longer be one of the four central defenders regularly called up by Didier Deschamps [France coach, ed.]."
Yanga-Mbiwa should be involved this evening when Newcastle face Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League.
The Magpies drew the first leg at St. James’ Park 0-0 against the Ukrainian Premier League outfit, a game which saw Yanga-Mbiwa clock up his first 90 minutes for his new side.
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