Matthias Jaissle is confident that Matias Fernandes-Pardo has the potential to become one of Newcastle's leading strikers. The head coach urged fans not to rush the 21-year-old Belgian, who joined the team late and barely experienced pre-season training.
Fernandes-Pardo made the switch from Lille just before the summer transfer window closed, leaving him with little time to settle into his new surroundings.
The situation was further complicated by the international break, where the forward spent nearly three weeks with the Belgium squad, receiving limited game time and training opportunities.
Jaissle insists that the young recruit shouldn't be judged solely on his pressing ability. He said:
He has everything it takes to become a top forward. We mustn’t see him merely as a player who presses the opponent at maximum speed.
On the ball, he constantly creates space behind defences, can engage in combinations, is technically very strong, can play on the flanks, and is difficult to stop.
I’m a hundred percent sure he has a bright future with us.
The coach also appealed to fans to give the young talent time to adjust.
He's still very young. This is part of our journey.
He arrived very late, almost without a pre-season, and then spent three weeks away with the national team, where he hardly played and trained.
We need to allow him time and exercise patience. We will support him, and there's much more to come from him.
Despite the challenges, Fernandes-Pardo has already demonstrated qualities that Jaissle particularly values. In a recent 2-1 victory against Hull, the Belgian made 28 runs — more than any other player in the Premier League that match weekend.
For a player still adjusting to the English game, this statistic serves as a strong testament to his work rate and willingness to meet the coach's expectations without the ball.
Newcastle now hopes that as Fernandes-Pardo's fitness improves, he will increasingly showcase the attacking talents that he demonstrated during his time at Lille.
