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Siem de Jong back in the Champions League

8 years ago
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Whisper it quietly but Siem de Jong could slowly but surely be working his way back to being the football player Newcastle thought they’d bought back in 2014.

A structured progression has seen the Newcastle midfielder/striker work on his fitness and then make two appearances for the PSV second team.

They (along with the Ajax second team) play in the second tier of Dutch football and are currently top of the table, Siem de Jong scoring a stunning 30 yard free-kick against NAC Breda.

Those games on the 9 and 16 September were then followed with a first team debut for PSV, the 21 September seeing Siem de Jong start the cup game as his loan side beat Roda 4-0.

Finally, on Saturday (24 September) de Jong made his first appearance in the league for PSV, a late substitute as they won 3-1 at Excelsior.

Tonight PSV are in Russia and play Rostov in the Champions League, Siem de Jong one of the 21 man squad who travelled.

The memories will come tumbling back, with Siem de Jong having turned out 23 times in the Champions League for Ajax, his last game being a 1-0 win over Celtic in November 2013, only some seven months before joining Newcastle.

Obviously all Newcastle minds are solely focused on Norwich tonight and getting another three points towards promotion. However, you can’t help but think what a bonus it would be if de Jong returned to Newcastle like a…new signing.

His goals record in Dutch football speaks for itself but his form in the Champions League definitely suggests he is capable of playing at a much higher level than the Eredivisie, if he can get that fitness & form back.

In October/November 2012, Siem de Jong scored three goals in the Champions League against Manchester City, two at the Etihad earned a 2-2 draw and the cracker you can watch below, helping Ajax to a 3-1 win in Amsterdam.

Form like this would make him a very welcome returner to St James Park, go to 1.20 if you want to go direct to the stunning Siem de Jong goal.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/qdukOZB_Amc&w=600]

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