Newcastle Boosted Despite Defeat As Latest Signing Set To Join Them In US

Despite suffering their first defeat of the Steve McClaren reign Newcastle United will be handed a welcome boost on Wednesday - when new £14.5 million signing Georginio Wijnaldum joins his teammates for the first time in the USA. The Magpies paid for a woeful opening 45 minutes as they succumbed 2-1 to Mexican side Club Atlas in Milwaukee in the early hours of Wednesday morning (BST), yet McClaren's men will receive a much-needed shot in the arm when Dutchman Wijnaldum's flight touches down. Wijnaldum, who signed from Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven on Saturday, flew back to Holland over the weekend with his agent Humphry Nijman in order to get himself ready for the Magpies€™ pre-season trip to the USA. In fact, Wijnaldum even tweeted his delight before his flight on Wednesday, saying:

"Next stop to America."

Although he will join the rest of the Newcastle squad in America by Wednesday,the attacking-midfielder will aso have to return to Holland once more in August - in order to collect his Golden Shoe award as the best player in the Eredivisie last season. So impressive was Wijnaldum for PSV last season that he was named Dutch Player of the Year, proving the Magpies have made quite an acquisition. https://twitter.com/GWijnaldum/status/621274590325669888 Interestingly, the last three winners of the award - Jan Vertonghen, Wilfried Bony and Daley Blind - have also moved to England immediately after being recognised by their Dutch peers. Wijnaldum has signed a five-year contract on Tyneside after he became Mike Ashley€™s most-expensive signing since he took over as Newcastle owner. The Dutchman became the club€™s first signing in 335 days - and more signings will soon follow, with Anderlecht forward Aleksandar Mitrovic high on Newcastle€™s radar. After completing his move to Newcastle, Wijnaldum told nufcTV of his delight at the transfer:

"I know Newcastle has a great stadium and great fans, 52,000 people in the stadium. "I know the trainer (Steve McClaren) because he was at (FC) Twente when I was at Feyenoord. "He turned Twente into Champions for the first time and he led them to play good football when he was there. "When he was at Feyenoord he tried to get me to Twente, so it€™s funny that it has happened now."

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