Henri Saivet has revealed that his spell at Newcastle United was "horrible".
The 25-year-old Senegal international linked up with the Magpies in the winter transfer window earlier this year, costing the then Premier League club a fee of around £5m to capture from Bordeaux.
However, Saivet hardly featured for Newcastle as the Magpies battled unsuccessfully to avoid relegation from the English top flight.
Now he is back in France, having linked up with Saint-Etienne on loan until the end of the season and Saivet is happy to turn the page on a Newcastle spell to forget.
"I had been signed to play and I was not playing", he told France Football.
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"It was hard.
"I had the feeling of being paid to do nothing. It was horrible.
"You're there, but you're useless", Saivet added.
The midfielder, who came through the youth ranks at Bordeaux, will now be bidding to clock up regular playing time and rediscover his form back in the familiar environment of Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne.
Saivet is under contract with Newcastle until the summer of 2021 and it remains to be seen whether he will return to St. James' Park.
