Why The Newcastle management will cite the Premier League’s PSR rules to support its argument that, at the end of

June, they were forced to sell Minteh for £30 million in order to avoid receiving a point punishment. Their argument

has some validity, but it absolves them of responsibility when, had they behaved differently and addressed the

imbalance in their accounts earlier, they might have been able to find a solution that avoided selling a player who,

despite his lack of experience, was already attracting interest from some of Europe’s most astute clubs.

Brighton’s recruitment operation is rightly lauded for its ability to spot emerging potential at an early stage, enabling

the club to recruit players who then go on to become huge assets. The Seagulls’ metrics flagged up Minteh as one of

the most exciting young talents in Europe, hence their willingness to break their club record to sign him.

Yet while Brighton felt they knew what they were getting when they signed the Gambia international, there was

a sense that Newcastle never really grasped the scale of the talent they had on their hands. Eddie Howe was non-

when speaking about Minteh at the start of the summer, and while he has subsequently bemoaned the need to sell

both Minteh and Anderson, the general feeling is that he was more perturbed by the loss of the latter. Had Minteh

remained on Newcastle’s books this summer, there is a good chance he would have been sent away on a second

season-long loan.

Brighton won’t be ushering him through the exit door anytime soon, with their head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, a huge

fan of the winger.

“He (Minteh) has big potential,” said the Brighton boss. “It’s not only his offensive skills, it’s also how he works

against the ball, how he reacts when he loses the ball. It’s something where we as a team are really happy about him.

“I think he’s a good listener. He tries to listen, and then immediately he goes to the pitch and tries to do what you say

to him. That’s a very good attitude, and he has a good character. He’s always on the pitch, he’s really resilient.”

Minteh’s statistics back up Hurzeler’s view. He has started five of Brighton’s seven league games so far – he was a

substitute in the other two – and scored his first Premier League goal in the 3-2 win over Tottenham that preceded

the international break.

He has provided one league assist – the same number as Harvey Barnes, and one more than Anthony Gordon has

managed so far this term – and boasts an xA (expected assists) figure of 1.36, suggesting he has been even more

effective than his basic stats indicate. And all of this from a player who had not played a minute of Premier League

prior to the start of the season.

Yankuba Minteh in Champions League action for Feyenoord against Celtic

His running stats also stood out, with his willingness to close down opponents and kick-start a high press ticking

some of the key boxes that most coaches now regard as fundamental components of a winger’s arsenal. Ironically,

they are qualities that Howe regards as essential within his Newcastle team. As a result, Brighton’s recruitment

specialists couldn’t believe that the Magpies were willing to sell him.

“Brighton have been really pleased with him,” said Brian Owen, a sports writer who covers the Seagulls for the

Brighton Argus. “When he signed, the early indications were that he would be integrated into the first team slowly,

but it hasn’t really been like that at all. (Simon) Adingra was such a key player last season, so the fact Minteh is

playing ahead of him says everything really.

“He’s the archetypal modern-day winger. He’s such a pest to opposition players, and I think that’s why Brighton’s

manager rates him so highly. He’s quickly become very important to the way the team plays.

“He’s still undeveloped. You can tell that he occasionally makes the wrong decisions, and his initial touch and finish

aren’t always the greatest. However, he is a force to be reckoned with and excels at pressuring and intimidating

defenders.

“He valued the preseason trip to Japan since it allowed him to immediately establish himself as a valuable member of

the club. Then, while chasing back in the opening match of the season against Everton, he took a blow to the head and left with a concussion. At the time, it was perceived as a possible setback, but in retrospect, I believe it merely

served to highlight his skill level for everyone. His being there, poking his head in

He is anticipated to start for Brighton this weekend as they attempt to win at St. James’, despite the fact that he has

been away on international duty with Gambia this week, when he scored an equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Madagascar

and then set up Musa Barrow’s winner in a 1-0 triumph over the same opponent.

Howe will undoubtedly attempt to minimise the importance of his return to Tyneside, but from Newcastle’s

perspective, his departure is already beginning to appear like a costly error.

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