The Newcastle boss has heaped praise on the young defender.
Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has singled Chancel Mbemba out as a successful summer signing, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Indeed, the 21-year-old has made a strong start to life at St James’ Park – and McClaren feels he has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water.
Notably, Newcastle’s other summer signings have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight so far this campaign.
McClaren is quoted as telling reporters: “With the start, people will obviously criticise the first window but the people we’ve signed in that first window are all good players.
“They need time to adapt to the Premier League. [Chancel] Mbemba has been like a duck to water with it. We know that January is coming up and it will be important.”
| 2015/16 | Tackles | Interceptions | Headers | Clearances | Appearances | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancel Mbemba | 18 | 16 | 12 | 45 | 6 | 540 |
| Jack Colback | 17 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 540 |
| Massadio Haidara | 9 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 530 |
| Fabricio Coloccini | 8 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 540 |
As Opta stats show, the Newcastle defender has outperformed his colleagues heavily in several key areas.
No Magpies player has won more tackles than the 21-year-old so far this Premier League season, while the same applies to the amount of headers Mbemba was won and the amount of clearances he has made.
In terms of interceptions, the Congolese centre-back also ranks highly. It seems with every bunch of Newcastle recruits, then, one does tend to stand out. Last term, it was Daryl Janmaat. Is Mbemba this season’s big success story on Tyneside? And will his strengths be enough to compensate for the shoddy form of so many of his colleagues?
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