I can’t wait’: £4.5m player who Newcastle sold says he’ll be at SJP tonight for PSG game

Newcastle United vs Paris Saint-Germain is the biggest game at St James’ Park for a long time, and it is attracting some huge names to Tyneside.

Kylian Mbappe will be lining up for PSG, while the world’s media will be in attendance to witness Newcastle’s first home game in the Champions League for 20 years.

It is an incredibly exciting occasion, and one that will also see Yohan Cabaye return to St James’ Park.

He is set to be at the game this evening, as part of PSG’s contingent. Cabaye famously left Newcastle to sign for PSG back in 2014, and he is now actually employed by the club. The 37-year-old is the deputy youth football director for PSG’s academy, helping bring the next generation of players through at the Ligue 1 club.

PSG being drawn against Newcastle in the Champions League was a dream scenario for him, and he has spoke about his delight about heading back to St James’ Park.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Cabaye has spoke to the Athletic. He is incredibly excited to be in attendance for the Champions League clash between his two former clubs Newcastle and PSG.

“To be serious, I can’t wait to be there on Wednesday,” he said.

“I can’t wait to come back. Except with Palace, it’s going to be the first time that I have come back to St James’.

“I know my colleagues from Paris don’t know about the atmosphere! For sure, it will be one of the best nights ever in Europe. I cannot wait. I can’t wait to see familiar faces too, some people who worked there at the club.”

A very different Newcastle to the one Cabaye left for PSG

Cabaye was a bargain signing in 2011, arriving from Lille for £4.5million. He immediately became a star on Tyneside, and was the talisman for Alan Pardew’s side.

His efforts nearly led Newcastle into the Champions League during his debut year, before results turned the following

But his departure was symbolic of Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United. At the time, they famously sold off their best players for profit, with no real ambition to do anything spectacular on the pitch beyond survive.

Now things are very different. In fact, it is a complete contrast. Newcastle are competing, and they are going to be competing on the grandest stage against one of Europe’s biggest clubs in PSG.

It is a remarkable occasion, and one that Cabaye is relishing. In fairness, he’s probably just happy that he won’t get booed like the last time he was here with Crystal Palace!

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Yohan Cabaye shares what he’s convinced about Newcastle after meeting Dan Ashworth

A lot has changed at Newcastle United since Yohan Cabaye played for the club.

He is set to return to St James’ Park tonight for the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, as he witnesses the Magpies’ first major home game in Europe for 20 years.

It is going to be an incredible occasion, and a night that Newcastle fans will never forget.

However, the owners will hope and expect that this is merely the first of many home games in the Champions League under their guidance.

Since buying the club almost two years ago, there has been a dramatic turnaround at St James’ Park. Newcastle United is unrecognisable, and have gone from relegation certainties to Champions League competitors in staggeringly quick fashion.

The owners have got big decisions right, much to the delight of former Toon player Yohan Cabaye. He has spoke about the owners in an interview with the Athletic, and admitted that he actually spoke with Toon Sporting Director Dan Ashworth at the Champions League draw back in August.

Yohan Cabaye impressed with what the Newcastle owners are doing

Ahead of the game between Newcastle and PSG, Cabaye spoke to the Athletic about the Toon owners’ project.

“Yeah, I’m glad to see Newcastle at the top, under the lights, in Europe, in England,” he said.

“I can see that the new ownership is working well.

“I had the chance to meet Dan [Ashworth] at the Champions League draw in Monaco. I know they are going the right way. It could have been easy to spend money after money on players that don’t fit the project.

“They are doing well and I’m glad to see that.”

Recruitment mistakes at Newcastle would have been easy

Cabaye believes that the Newcastle owners are doing well, and is happy to see that they have avoided making major mistakes in the transfer window.

As he says, it would have been easy for them to spend a load of money on players who are not fit for purpose. However, they have been much more methodical and purposeful in their investments, and it is massively paying off.

For example, Anthony Gordon is now proving to be a wonderous signing, while Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier are club talismans.

Newcastle will continue going in the right direction because of decisions like these. Recruitment is so important, and the Magpies are getting it right time and time again.