Barely 3 months into the new campaign and according to recent reports, Newcastle new boy Florian Thauvin is contemplating his Magpie future.
After a very bright debut albeit against lowly league 2 side Northampton, Magpie fans must have thought Graham Carr had found another Ligue 1 star. Thauvin didn’t come cheap – he cost nearly £12million plus the year-long loan of Frenchman Remy Cabella.
It was a clear statement of intent by Ashley. After a few Premier league games, Thauvin has found himself out of Steve McClaren’s plans.
Thauvin has come in for a fair chunk of criticism during his short spell on Tyneside from various football figures and media outlets. After a shocking display in the Capital One cup defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday, the Daily Mail gave his performance as 1 out of 10 – the lowest score ever given by the tabloid.
Turning up to home games wearing a tuxedo whilst the club hadn’t won a game all season led to black and white legend Alan Shearer calling him a disgrace.
Last season, Thauvin also earned himself a place in popular French newspaper L’Equipe’s worst team of the year, along with new Liverpool forward Origi.
It is far too soon to judge Thauvin, and given McClaren seems reluctant to use him after the horror show in the cup it appears he may have to bide his time if he is to make it on Tyneside.
Like Cabella, Florian needs time to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. Thauvin’s contract runs until 2020 and, given the price tag he was brought in for, it is expected he will remain a Newcastle player at least until the summer.
With the European Championship in France just around the corner, Florian will be expecting game time and hoping to make the French squad or risk a very uncertain future under McClaren.
