Newcastle United loanee labelled ‘a funny player’ as £6m man struggles

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Yankuba Minteh has impressed since joining Feyenoord on loan from Premier League giants Newcastle United but his performance during the Dutch cup victory over Utrecht was not one he will look back on with much fondness. 

The decision to send Yankuba Minteh out on loan to the Eredivisie champions was, for the most part, a pretty good one. 

Minteh, a £6 million signing from Odense BK over the summer, has taken his game to a new level under a coach in Arne Slot who has been more than happy to hand him the freedom he needs to wreak havoc on the wing. 

But, despite more good performances than bad ones in the Netherlands, one Eredivisie analyst is yet to be convinced that the Newcastle United-owned speedster is really all that much better than the other widemen at Feyenoord’s disposal. 

Newcastle United loanee dividing opinion at Feyenoord

“I think Minteh is a funny player. Nothing really came of (his performance) today,” former Ajax and PSV midfielder Kenneth Perez told ESPN after the teenager struggled in Feyenoord’s nervy KNVB Cup triumph over Utrecht at De Kuip. 

“If the difference is only one (goal), a stray cross can kill you. Feyenoord did not create much in the second half (when Minteh was introduced off the bench).

“You can see that things have been a little more difficult (for the club) in the last three weeks. They have had a few blows, including in the Champions League.” 

Yankuba Minteh strikes up Santiago Gimenez partnership

Minteh does have four goals and two assists in Feyenoord colours. A respectable tally for a 19-year-old playing in one of Europe’s (sort of) ‘major leagues’ for the very first time. 

Santiago Gimenez, Feyenoord’s prolific centre-forward, is certainly enjoying sharing a pitch with a winger who’s devastating pace has had many an Eredivisie full-back reaching for the aspirin. 

“Minteh is great. He is very fast,” Gimenez tells ESPN. “90 per cent of the time, he wins in one-on-one situations. You have to be ready in the box (for him to deliver).”