Newcastle youngster Yankuba Minteh avoids red card after drama

Newcastle United youngster Yankuba Minteh was in the spotlight on Sunday as he helped himself to a goal in the Eredivisie title clash between PSV and his current club Feyenoord. However, the teenager was lucky not to make headlines for the wrong reasons after narrowly avoiding a red card.

Minteh equalised for Feyenoord midway through the first-half, capitalising on sloppy defending from Olivier Boscagli to pinch the ball back high up the pitch before calmly taking the ball beyond PSV stopper Walter Benitez and putting the ball in the empty net.

However, on the stroke of half-time Minteh’s afternoon almost came to an abrupt halt as he appeared to stick his head in the face of PSV defender Andre Ramalho Silva. The pair squared up to each other in a heated off the ball incident before the Gambian leant in with his head, forcing his opponent to the ground in dramatic fashion.

In truth, there was little contact from Minteh and Silva’s reaction was well over the top, but players are fully aware they cannot risk making such movements with their head in the modern game. Thankfully for Feyenoord, Minteh stayed on the pitch for the second-half and snatched a point to keep their faint hopes of catching PSV, who are 10 points clear at the top, alive.

Minteh has impressed of late and has been in fine scoring form in recent matches. After netting a brace in his last outing, performing well in such a high stakes game will no doubt impress those watching both in the Netherlands and on Tyneside.

Speaking last week, Minteh said: “You have to score goals and provide assists and perform your defensive duties. That’s a lot, but not an issue for me. That’s how I grew up as a football player: first your tasks, then attack.”

“’m not done yet at Feyenoord. I want to show more of what I have to offer. We are no longer active in Europe, but there are still plenty of great matches to come.”