How Thiaw became Newcastle's 'mentality monster'

Malick Thiaw has won three caps for Germany

Eddie Howe was "fearful" last summer.

Newcastle United were in the market for a centre-back and there was not exactly a long list of realistic names whom the head coach believed could make the difference.

Howe had his sights set on Malick Thiaw, but would Newcastle be able to prise the 24-year-old away from AC Milan?

And, even if they could, would another club come in and beat Newcastle to the punch once again after Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Joao Pedro and James Trafford were among those targets who opted to move elsewhere during a draining transfer window?

Not this time. Newcastle managed to complete a £35m move for Thiaw in August.

It was a deal that went a little under the radar elsewhere given how Newcastle went on to break their transfer record to recruit another German, Nick Woltemade, and spent bigger fees on Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey.

But Thiaw was always going to be an "important signing", according to Howe.

"Malick is an outstanding talent and has a little bit of everything in his game," he said this week. "I've been really pleased with how he's started."

Thriving under pressure

No wonder Newcastle had been tracking Thiaw's progress at Milan for some time.

There was a belief within the club that it would be difficult to find another defender with a similar profile for such a price, particularly one as imposing, athletic and comfortable on the ball.

Thiaw, crucially, was also keen on the move, having previously turned down a move to Como.

He had a productive chat with Howe and was understood to have viewed Newcastle as a "match" for his ambitions.

He was "proud" of Newcastle's interest after personally doing his homework on the club and the Premier League.

In fact, Paul Winsper, a high performance consultant who previously worked for Newcastle, says he was even able to "sell the North East a little bit" to Thiaw during a training camp in the Lake District a few weeks beforehand.

Winsper, who has also worked with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, England rugby union captain Maro Itoje and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, always backed the 24-year-old to "relish" life at St James' Park.

"I'm not saying AC Milan are not a big club - they are - but it's a different atmosphere at Newcastle and he has the character," Winsper said.

"His mentality reminds me a lot of Toni Rudiger. When you get him under pressure, he is going to thrive."

Thiaw certainly had to thrive after Fabian Schar suffered a concussion last month.

Only captain Bruno Guimaraes (167) has made more appearances for Newcastle than Schar (162) under Howe.

Schar has been such an ever-present at right-sided centre-back that Thiaw initially had to be patient to get his chance after arriving a few days before the season started.

But Thiaw used that time on the bench to study games - witnessing the "bite" and speed of the Premier League first hand, in the words of Howe - and he impressed staff with his performances in training.

So when the time came to make his full debut, against Bournemouth, Thiaw was primed to take his chance.

Such have been his displays since then, the 6ft 4in Thiaw has kept hold of the shirt.

That will not have come as a surprise to close friend Erdem Canpolat, who rose through the ranks with Thiaw at Schalke.

"Malick never shies away from a challenge and always wants to lead from the front - a true mentality monster," he said.

'Newcastle will have a lot of fun with him'

It is still early days, but Thiaw has been embraced by Geordies, who have serenaded him to the tune of 'Ciao Bella' following his performances.

Since he made his full debut, coming into a tight defensive unit, Newcastle have conceded only six goals in nine games in all competitions.

That is not to say that Newcastle have been watertight - letting in damaging late goals against Arsenal and Brighton in that time - but Howe's side would be a lot lower than 12th in the Premier League had they not defended resolutely for the most part.

Only Arsenal have kept more clean sheets than Newcastle (five) in the top flight this season, while the league leaders are the only team to boast a lower xG against figure than Howe's side (7.33).

Thiaw has played his part after forming a strong partnership with Sven Botman in the heart of defence.

"He's just been himself," Howe said.

It is a small sample size but, of those Premier League defenders who have played a minimum of 400 minutes in the competition, according to Opta, Thiaw ranks fourth for interceptions (1.79) per 90 minutes and sixth for aerial duels won (4.17) per 90 minutes. He is also sixth for duel success (71%).

On the ball, meanwhile, at Newcastle, only midfielder Jacob Ramsey has a better pass completion rate than Thiaw (87%).

This is a defender who "tries to find solutions rather than simply kicking the ball long", as former Schalke team-mate Can Bozdogan said.

"He is a central defender with a really good technique," he said.

"He can build up but, on the other hand, he's also really athletic. He's fast, strong and can read the game.

"Newcastle will have a lot of fun with him."