Georginio Wijnaldum "Looking Forward" To Newcastle Debut Against Sacramento Republic

Georginio Wijnaldum is "looking forward" to potentially making his Newcastle United debut against Sacramento Republic this weekend after training with the squad for the first time. The £14.5 million signing from PSV Eindhoven touched down in California on Wednesday and took part in his opening Magpies pre-season training session on Thursday. While the Dutchman is hoping to make his debut against Sacramento on Saturday night (Sunday morning in the UK), Steve McClaren has insisted he will assess the attacking-midfielder's fitness before throwing him into the fray.

Speaking to nufcTV after his first Newcastle training session on Thursday, Wijnaldum said ahead of the game:

"Yes I look forward (to making my debut against Sacremento) to playing with my new team as I want to play with my teammates on the pitch. "Today I could see how good they are so I want to see them during the game."

Along with Wijnaldum, both Mehdi Abeid and Lubomir Satka flew into Sacramento Airport on Wednesday as the USA tour squad swelled to 26 faces. Interestingly, both Steven Taylor and club captain Fabricio Coloccini are also expected to feature for the first time in pre-season during the match having sat out the opening two fixtures through injury.

However, it is Wijnaldum's potential debut that will really excite Toon supporters - and the midfielder revealed he had received a warm welcome from the Magpies squad after touching down, even if he was tired after the long journey. He continued:

"Yes everybody was nice and trying to help me. Siem (de Jong) and (Jack) Colback came to my room last night when I was arriving at the hotel and made me welcome and asked me if I wanted to go (for a) drink with them but I was really tired after the journey I did so I went to sleep. "I was awake early (at) four o'clock because of the time difference between Europe and America, it's big - with Holland it's nine hours. "I was awake (at) four o'clock so I don't sleep a lot but I will sleep after training."

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