Eddie Howe quizzed over Yankuba Minteh staying at Newcastle next season after Feyenoord request

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has congratulated Yankuba Minteh after a successful season on loan with Feyenoord.

The pacey Newcastle forward picked up a Dutch Cup winners medal after Feyenoord beat NEC in the final on Sunday and despite a sending off, Howe feels he will have benefited from the experience overall. Feyenoord players celebrated winning the cup in front of fans in a public reception in Rotterdam.

The question now for Newcastle fans is whether they will see him or not in pre-season, and the head coach did not rule out a recall. Feyenoord are keen to extend his loan but Howe may want to take a look at Minteh in pre-season and he would be the ideal player to have in the squad ahead of a potential Europa League or Europa Conference League campaign.

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Howe said: "I have been keeping a very close eye on him. That would have been a great day for him despite the sending off. I think he has done really well and attacked the challenge of going alone, new league, new team-mates and has played in the Champions League. I think he has done really well this year and he can be proud of his efforts.

"I have tended not to communicate, I think you are better of letting the players focus and not give them too many distractions. Let's wait and see what happens in his next step."

Minteh has been asked about his future in Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, and said: “Ultimately, the Premier League is my goal. Newcastle United is the club that have a lot of confidence in me. I have no idea what the future looks like.

"I was in Newcastle once, when they played against Borussia Dortmund. I will hear soon what plans the club has for me. I’m still young, I have time, maybe they want to loan me out again.

“I don’t know yet, I’ll hear about it. I’ll let everything happen to me. I know only that one day I will play in the Premier League (for Newcastle United)."

Minteh has netted 10 goals for Feyenoord after making the switch to the Dutch club on loan following his transfer from Odense. Newcastle looked into recalling Minteh in January amid their injury crisis but his return would have been a costly one given he had a no recall clause in his contract.