Yoan Gouffran revival gives Henri Saivet hope at Newcastle United

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Henri Saivet wouldn’t be the first Newcastle United outcast to force his way back into Rafael Benitez’s first-team plans.

The transfer window is now shut and Henri Saivet is gearing up for another four months at least in at Newcastle United. Whether the midfielder’s decision to stay and fight for his place proves to be a good one, however, time will tell.

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle were willing to listen to offers for the former Bordeaux playmaker, who arrived at St James’ in January 2016 but barely featured once Rafael Benitez replaced Steve McClaren two months later.

However, after returning from a disappointing loan spell at St Etienne last season, Saivet is focused on forcing his way into Benitez’s plans.

“I have to work hard and keep going to show everybody I can play in this team, so when I have a chance to show it, I have to do it,” Saivet told The Chronicle last month.

“I’m going to fight for the team, for the fans and for everybody. I want to play. But it depends only on me. I have to work hard to show the manager and other people that I can play.”

Clean slate?

Saivet has made a decent fist of things so far, impressing in the EFL Cup second-round clash with Nottingham Forest despite Newcastle going down to a 3-2 home defeat.

And though Benitez has ruthlessly dispatched the vast majority of Newcastle’s ‘deadwood’ since taking over, he has shown a willingness to hand out second chances if he thinks they deserve it.

After all, Yoan Gouffran’s Newcastle career looked over last summer but, even though the club were initially willing to let him go according to the Shields Gazette, the winger won over Benitez with his performances and attitude.

The Frenchman went on to play 39 games as Newcastle won the Championship trophy, before leaving for Turkey after his contract expired. Therefore, Saivet should be inspired by another former Bordeaux man who looked set to be mired in Magpies’ no-man’s land, but managed to end up winning significant game time at St James’s Park.