Nabil Bentaleb's glowing verdict on his stint at Newcastle United

The midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Newcastle United from Schalke 04, where he had been frozen out for nine months.

Bentaleb made 15 appearances for the club, which signed free agent Jeff Hendrick this summer as a “like-for-like” replacement for the 25-year-old.

“There’s no doubt that my time at Newcastle was very good for me,” the 25-year-old told Schalke’s official website. “I had the opportunity to show what I can do, and to get my fitness back, after my knee injury.

"The Premier League being put on hold for several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic also gave me additional time to get back to my usual level. In a way, I had additional time to prepare. I’m very grateful to Newcastle United for the opportunity that the club gave me. In the end, I featured in 15 games.”