Siem de Jong is hoping for a return to Newcastle United.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez with Siem De Jong
PSV Eindhoven attacker Siem de Jong has told NU Sports in his native Netherlands that he receives messages from Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez.
De Jong, 27, was snapped up by former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew in the summer of 2014, and he arrived with huge expectations having thrived for Ajax.
The Swiss-born forward, who can play as a No. 10 or up front, hit 75 goals in his last five seasons for Ajax, and was even appointed captain of the Amsterdam giants following Jan Vertonghen’s 2012 move to Tottenham.
Whilst De Jong won four successive Eredivisie titles with Ajax from 2011 to 2014, he found that lie at Newcastle was much different, and has largely endured a torrid time in the North East.
De Jong has been limited to just 26 first-team appearances for Newcastle due to a host of injury problems, and then suffered relegation to the Championship with the Magpies last season.
Rafael Benitez decided to loan De Jong out, sending him back to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven for the season – but it seems that a St. James’ Park return could be in the pipeline.
De Jong has spoken to NU Sports in his native Netherlands about his situation, admitting that he wants to return to and play for Newcastle at the end of the season, though acknowledges that his fitness needs to improve.
Aston Villa’s Carlos Sanchez in action with Newcastle’s Siem de Jong
The Dutchman added that manager Benitez still sends him text messages despite being over 500 miles away in Eindhoven, and he even remains in the Newcastle squad WhatsApp group as he gears up for a return to Tyneside.
“I want to return [to Newcastle],” said De Jong. “Newcastle United is a great club, especially when they play in the Premier League. I hope there opportunities going to get and I want also to fight.”
“My fitness is not there yet as I’d like it to be, but hopefully I can prepared and be ready for when the new season starts again. The coach [Benitez] occasionally sends a text message to me, and it’s nice that he does. I follow Newcastle closely too, I’m even in the WhatsApp group,” he added.
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