Newcastle United midfielder Aladji Bamba, signed from Monaco in the summer, has found himself on the periphery under head coach Matthias Jaissle, who has urged patience as the young Frenchman adapts to the Premier League.
Bamba's last appearance for Newcastle was a three-minute cameo in the 2-1 win over Hull City, with his longest outing coming in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, where he was afforded 16 minutes. Two months have passed since that brief run-out against the Tigers.
A Summer of Transition
Bamba was signed during a period when Eddie Howe had told the board he intended to leave and was no longer in control of transfers. The former manager's last signing was Ewen Jaouen from Stade Rennes, before sporting director Ross Wilson essentially signed off further business between Howe's exit plan and Jaissle's arrival.
Signings such as Amar Dedic, Nico Gonzalez, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo were made with Jaissle's approval, even though they were still signed by Wilson as transfer chief. Jaissle, while happy to work with the player he inherited, has drawn a clear line in the sand.
High Expectations, Limited Minutes
Bamba arrived on Tyneside expecting more game-time following his switch from the South of France. Last season he made 23 appearances for Monaco and played in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain.
He had a solid debut in the victory at the Mestalla against Valencia, but since then he has slipped down the pecking order with the arrival of Gonzalez and the emergence of Sean Steur offering Jaissle other options. Joelinton, Joe Willock, and Lewis Miley have also starred in the engine room ahead of him.
Patience as the Watchword
Jaissle is weighing up a number of factors on some of his younger stars, the main one being the physicality and pace of life in the Premier League for the likes of Bazoumana Toure, Bamba, and Steur, who came in from European leagues. Bamba is fit enough and had 180 minutes of pre-season action under Jaissle's watch, but confidence and adaptation to the rough and tumble of the Premier League are the issues.
Bamba's morale wasn't helped by a penalty miss in a shootout during the Visit Malta Cup final at St James' Park against Strasbourg. He may have thought he'd get more of a chance to shine in the Carabao Cup but didn't play a single minute.
When asked about the young talents he inherited, specifically Bamba, Steur, and Toure, Jaissle told beIN Sports that patience is very much the watchword, and they will all get a chance.
"I think anybody who has been here a long time now in the Premier League, knows that it needs adaptation time when you sign such young players who were not here before in the Premier League. It starts with the physicality, with the adaptation; you spoke about the intensity in these matches, and they are now in that process to improve in the training sessions," Jaissle said.
"Here and there they get the minutes, then they can also shine already and this is now what we ask from them and what we can do for them, just supporting and taking them by the hand and ensuring where they can improve. Then if you're then comfortable, it's the right time."
The right time for Bamba and co looks like it will be later in the season, but Jaissle also has the best view of all in training every day. The price tags of Bamba at £35m and Toure at £43m are the main reason why many fans are questioning their lack of involvement.
