Florian Thauvin hailed by Massadio Haidara after Newcastle Cup heroics

26 August 2015 12:16

Massadio Haidara hailed compatriot Florian Thauvin after seeing him launch his Newcastle career in earnest with a match-winning display.

The £13million winger converted Haidara's third-minute cross and then turned provider three times to play the central role in a 4-1 Capital One Cup second round victory over League Two Northampton at St James' Park on Tuesday night.

The Magpies' reward was another home tie in the third round with Sky Bet Championship Sheffield Wednesday due to head for Tyneside next month, by which time for Marseille midfielder Thauvin will hope to have further impressed both the fans and his team-mates.

Full-back Haidara told nufcTV: "He did very well for the first game at home. He made three assists and scored a goal, so it is already very good for him.

"He is a good player. We know it's difficult to play for a new team, but he did well and everybody is happy for him."

Thauvin completed his move to Newcastle last Wednesday evening and was handed his first taste of action as a substitute in Saturday's creditable 0-0 Barclays Premier League draw at Manchester United.

But having been included in the starting line-up for the first time against the Cobblers, he wasted little time, firing them ahead early on and then setting up Siem de Jong, Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson to ensure Marc Richards' 10th minute penalty counted for little.

Thauvin may have allowed his football to do the talking on the pitch, although he revealed on his arrival that part of his focus off it during his early weeks in the north-east will be to learn English, although the club's French contingent will be there to help in the meantime.

Haidara said: "I know it's difficult when you don't speak English, like me in my first weeks and first month here. It was very difficult for me because I didn't speak English, so me and the other French guys will try to help him.

"He speaks a little bit of English, but when he needs help, we can help him."

The win was the first of head coach Steve McClaren's reign, and he will hope to follow that up with a more sizeable scalp when Premier League rivals Arsenal head for St James' on Saturday.

Haidara said: "Arsenal on Saturday will be a different game, but we have to take confidence because we got a good result last Saturday and last night, we won the game, so we have to go into Saturday with good confidence, be focused on the job you have to do and work for another good result."

Source: PA