‘Newcastle remains the club of my heart,’ says former Magpies man

Midfielder Mehdi Abeid has fluttered his eyelashes at former employers Newcastle United, saying he wouldn’t be averse to returning to St James’ Park.

The 24-year-old, who has been capped three times by Algeria, currently plies his trade in France for Dijon, whom he joined at the beginning of last season.

Abeid left Lens to join Newcastle in 2011 but only managed five appearances, none of which came in the Premier League, before being loaned out to St Johnstone and Panathinaikos.

In the 2014-15 campaign, the former France youth international did play for the Magpies 16 times but he was eventually sold to Panathinaikos.

There has been little to suggest that Rafael Benitez has any interest in bringing back Abeid but the player has had his say on a potential reunion with his former club nonetheless.

“Newcastle; it remains my club of heart,” said the Dijon man.

“They counted a lot for me, so why not one day? I have not had any contact yet.

“Perhaps they follow me. It would be all to my honour, for it is a great club. I do not close the door.”

Reflecting on why his Newcastle career wasn’t a success, Abeid said: “I came when I was very young and without a professional match in my legs.

(Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

“I was impressed by the Premier League, I did not trust myself. I did not dare. With a limited playing time, confidence decreases.

“In addition, we often played [at] the bottom of the table. There was maybe a fear of the coach to play me.”