One-time Newcastle United flop Luuk de Jong is being likened to Robert Lewandowski these days a decade on from his ill-fated loan spell in the Premier League.
Like namesake Siem, Luuk de Jong arrived at St James’ Park amid big expectations and departed later down the line amid a sense of regret and a nagging feeling of ‘what might have been’.
While a relentless series of injuries ruined Siem de Jong’s hopes of making a name for himself at Newcastle United, Luuk wasn’t helped by Alan Pardew’s apparent reluctance to play him in his favoured number nine role.
Often deployed in an ill-fitting midfield role in order to accommodate Papiss Cisse or Loic Remy, De Jong did not score even once in 12 Newcastle appearances.
Luuk de Jong struggled at Newcastle United
A decade on, no one could accuse the veteran striker of struggling in front of goal these days. De Jong has 17 in just 22 appearances this term, leading by example for a PSV Eindhoven side who have won all 13 of their league fixtures so far in 2023/24.
And Fred Rutten, PSV coach from 2009 to 2012, sees similarities between De Jong and the way the iconic, fellow 30-something Robert Lewandowski leads the line at Barcelona.
“They have had an excellent start, with Luuk de Jong now somewhat in the Lewandowski role. Yes, he really is the Lewandowski of PSV now,” Rutten tells Eindhovens Dagblad.
“Last season, Luuk still had to get used to it, after several seasons in a different physical strain. He didn’t always play ninety minutes in Spain (at Sevilla and Barcelona). Now, he’s back, and he deserves it.
“Luuk is a good guy for a team, who always works hard to get the best out of himself. A player who has the respect of everyone, and who reinforces this by taking the lead.”
‘The Lewandowski of PSV’
PSV have not won the Eredivisie title since De Jong’s first spell at the Philipps Stadium back in 2018. That could change sooner rather than later, however, seven points clear of reigning champions Feyenoord already.
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