Yankuba Minteh believes he is “developing a lot both on and off the pitch” during the early stages of his career, following a bright start to his loan spell with Feyenoord. The Gambian teenager joined Newcastle United from Danish Superliga side Odense Boldklub (OB) in July before being immediately loaned out to the Eredivisie champions. In that time, he has registered three goals and two assists in his last 10 Dutch top-flight appearances.
As well as competing on the European stage for Arne Slot’s side in the UEFA Champions League, Minteh also made his international debut for the Gambia national team in September. The 19-year-old scored on his senior bow to help the Scorpions secure qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Everything is going well so far at Feyenoord,” Minteh told nufc.co.uk. “It’s a good team, and I am surrounded by good people, so it’s been a positive start. The standard of football here is very good, and I’m trying to work as hard as possible every day in training and matches.
“The coaches and players in the squad have given me a lot of advice and tried to help me a lot. If I don’t understand something, they are there to explain it to me, so I fully understand what they want.
“I feel I’m developing a lot both on and off the pitch. Playing in Holland is different from Denmark because it’s a lot bigger with a different culture, and there’s a lot of top players in every position on the pitch.
“That was something I found hard when I first arrived, but I think I’m coping with it, and I’ve been able to take my chance on the team. I feel I’m getting stronger every day, both physically and mentally.”
Minteh made the bold decision to leave his native homeland to join OB as a 17-year-old and made an instant impact on his Danish Superliga debut. He scored the winning goal within three minutes of his introduction against champions FC Copenhagen before going on to record four goals and six assists during his maiden season at senior level.
The Gambian’s talent was touted by the Toon, and he subsequently made the move to Tyneside for £7 million in June. The forward reflected on his transfer to St. James’ Park as well as highlighting the benefits of his spells in Denmark and the Netherlands, both as a footballer and a young man.
“This is a dream come true for anyone,” the 19-year-old added. “Every footballer wants to play in the top five leagues in Europe, and the Premier League is number one if you’re counting a top division.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. Newcastle is a big club, and I see they like a lot of young players, which is a reason why I wanted to join. I just need to continue working hard while at Feyenoord.
“Everyone in Gambia is trying to get out of the country and play in Europe because that’s where everyone can see you, and it can help you in a financial way as you can get paid more than playing in Africa.
“These moves have helped me so much. I have a different life, knowing how to eat well and focusing on my football. It’s the thing I have chosen to do since I was young, my dream, and now I have achieved that dream of becoming a professional footballer.”
As many young footballers do, Minteh idolizes Lionel Messi, trying to emulate his style of play on the pitch. But the 19-year-old also has fond memories of watching the Premier League, citing a number of Magpies forwards, past and present, whom he admired from afar.
“Everyone wants to play in the Premier League growing up,” he said. “It’s a league that the whole world watches.
“I used to be a fan of Hatem Ben Arfa when he was at Newcastle, and I enjoyed the way he played. I liked Demba Ba and Papiss Cissé too, but now I’m looking up to Miguel Almirón, a winger like myself, as I believe we have a similar playing style.
“My main strength as a footballer is my pace. I am able to run quite fast, and I like to dribble, beating defenders in one-on-one situations and scoring goals. Dribbling is one of the things I enjoy most when playing on the pitch.”
Minteh, who hails from Bakoteh, marked his international debut for Gambia in goalscoring fashion. He sparked a two-goal comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against Congo, securing qualification for the African Cup of Nations finals for only the second time in the country’s history.
After recovering from a recent muscle injury, the highly-rated teenager is aiming to build on a positive year both at the club and international level. He said, “It was a great moment to make my international debut for Gambia.
