Former Newcastle midfielder Jeff Hendrick has admitted he would love to play under Matthias Jaissle, praising the German head coach's confidence and "aura" while warning fans they could be in for a strange season.
Jaissle took over from Eddie Howe in the St James' Park hotseat over the summer and has so far risen to the challenge, despite a transfer window focused on potential rather than established talent. United have lost only once in their opening seven games, sit ninth in the Premier League table with two wins and two draws, and have booked a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Hendrick Impressed by Jaissle's Confidence
Speaking to Andy's Bet Club, Hendrick said: "Despite that result against Leeds, Matthias Jaissle looks confident. He's got a bit of an aura about him, I suppose."
Hendrick, who worked with Danny Röhl in the past, added: "He came in and was probably a little bit unknown. But with his background, I've worked with Danny Röhl and I know sort of the way they want to play, it's high tempo, it's pressing, it's front foot. He's proving to people that they're going to be okay. I would really love to play for him, I think, with the way he likes his teams to set-up."
Concerns Over Coming From Behind
However, Hendrick noted a pattern in Newcastle's play: "But then there's one thing I keep looking at, they seem to be just coming back in games. So they're relying on that energy, breaking, getting the goals, and helping them get points on the board, but I'd like to see them take the lead a little bit more."
Jaissle has spoken of the need for time for his young side to gel and develop, with many players experiencing the Premier League for the first time.
Warning of a 'Crazy' Season
Hendrick cautioned that the campaign may not be plain sailing, predicting inconsistencies across the league. "I think it's going to be a bit of a crazy year with the turnaround in managers and players," he said.
"A lot of players normally go abroad, but there seems to be a lot of swapping in the Premier League, so there's going to be inconsistencies in performances and results. I think we've seen that with teams coming up and surprising people. I think for a club like Newcastle, I know this is a big turnaround and a brand new project with a lot of young players, but you want to be looking at that top half and trying to get those European spots."
