Virtues of Mathieu Valbuena much-needed at Newcastle

Tabloid headline writers have always seen Newcastle United as an easy target. Their most memorable, and least politically correct, work has surely been describing the influx of French footballers at St James’ Park of recent years as ‘frogs on the Tyne’.

All issues of taste and puns on ill-advised charity singles from a bygone era aside, Alan Pardew has more than done his bit for the Entente Cordial. A dozen current members of the Magpies’ first-team squad speak French as a first language.

The result of this has seen every Ligue 1 player who puts in a decent performance linked with joining the Tyneside foreign legion over the last couple of years.

Ask any Toon Army member about the club campaign just ended, and they will tell you the same sorry; Newcastle’s season fell off a cliff when playmaker Yohan Cabaye was sold in January.

Montpellier midfield creator Remy Cabella is the name mentioned in dispatches since to fill this void, but while he remains an unused substitute for France, Marseille counterpart Mathieu Valbuena is catching the eye.

The 29-year-old built on a promising display against hostile Honduras with a goal and an assist for Les Bleus in the next Group E game with Switzerland. So impressive in that 5-2 romp, France are now fourth-favourites to win the World Cup in Brazil at 9/1.

Cabella and Valbuena have something in common – a diminutive stature, and therefore a low centre of gravity. These traits make for elegant midfield players more than capable of doing a similar job to Cabaye, but would either be up to the rigours of Premier League football?

Physical tussles are something the English game has retained, while continental leagues have effectively outlawed them. If Valbuena, who is 5/1 to score again for France in their final group stage match against Ecuador, fancies the challenge then, he may pass compatriot Hatem Ben Arfa on his way out of Newcastle.