After eight fantastic years at Lens, I have stagnated. I needed a change of air. I am not afraid to leave for abroad, I have had contact dating back some time and I visited the facilities there last week. The leaders of the club told me about their plans and that they will rely on me for next season. For my part, I intend to give everything to develop in the Premier League."- Mehdi Abeid, 2011. In the interim three years since making that statement, Abeid has featured just five times for the Magpies, failing to register a single appearance in the Premier League. If he thought he was stagnating at Lens, one can only imagine what he makes of the predicament he finds himself in now. Having arrived full of promise and potential three years ago, it simply hasnt worked out for the 21 year old Algerian. He has been sent out on loan to Scottish underdogs St. Johnstone and Greek giants Panathinaikos, and impressed enough during the latter spell for rumours of a permanent deal to appear. Having helped to guide the Greeks to the Champions League, Panathinakos sporting director and former NUFC centre-back Nikos Dabizas hopes to tie the loanee down to a permanent contract this summer, and the mooted fee of £300k says everything you need to know about Newcastle's valuation of him. For Toon supporters, his loss certainly wont be keenly felt.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
