12 Things Newcastle Fans Need To Know About Chancel Mbemba
9. He Is Vastly Experienced Despite His Tender Age
Before the age of 21, the only thing many players are concerned about is how they are going to make themselves a first team regular with their club. And even though Chancel has been playing in a side that has made more than a couple of splashes in the Champions League in recent seasons, the 20-year-old has kept out more experienced heads to make one of the central defensive slots his own. The Congolese international has racked up 66 appearances for Anderlecht after breaking into the first team during the 2013/14 season. Eleven of those 'club caps' have come in the Champions League while the centre back has appeared a further 16 times for his country, alongside former Newcastle somersaulting striker Lomana LuaLua. Mbemba even has experience of playing against the very best the Premier League has to offer, turning out the full 90 minutes in both of Anderlecht's games against Arsenal in the Champions League last season. The purple and whites suffered a narrow defeat at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium before they snatched a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at The Emirates, thanks to a late Aleksandar MitroviĀ header.
