Striker reveals 'big motivation' to play for Newcastle United after Matthias Jaissle watches him in action
Newcastle United striker Vakhtang Salia has his eyes on making his first competitive appearance after impressing at Under-21s level.
Newcastle United forward Vakhtang Salia is hoping to put his injury troubles behind him after a promising start to the season.
Salia trained with Newcastle’s first team over the summer and even featured in pre-season friendly matches. He was also named on the bench in the Premier League win over Hull City in September.
The 19-year-old officially joined Newcastle at the end of the 2025 summer transfer window amid all the Alexander Isak transfer drama. He arrived from Dinamo Tbilisi and was officially the last signing made by former sporting director Paul Mitchell, who had agreed the transfer in advance.
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Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle and current sporting director Ross Wilson watched on from the stands as Salia netted his fifth goal of the season for Newcastle Under-21s against Sunderland at St James’ Park as he continues to impress and push for his senior breakthrough.
Last season Salia was set to leave the club on loan but ended up remaining on Tyneside and having a stop-start campaign due to various injury troubles. His Under-21s debut was delayed by months due to a hamstring problem.
“I think for me it was a hard [last season] because the first day I was injured I didn't really play,” Salia explained. “I’ve tried to come back as soon as possible to come back in my shape and try to score more goals and help the team.”
Now Salia is using Jaissle’s keen interest in Newcastle’s Under-21s side and the potential pathway to the first-team as motivation to make the step up.
On Jaissle watching on, Salia added: “It's a really big motivation and that's why we are this motivated and try to win all the games and maybe we get the chance in the first team, maybe we're not, but we try our best.
“It was a good experience [being with the first team] and I'll try to keep myself there, and if I deserve it, probably I'll be there. Let's see, it's the coach's decision, not mine. I hope I'll be back soon.”
Matthias Jaissle on Under-21s players
Reflecting on his first small taste of Tyne-Wear derby matchday action, Jaissle said: "It was nice and first of all I am happy for the young lads. Getting the opportunity to feel and taste a little bit of that atmosphere and that should give them the vision of where they want to be in a full stadium.
"They did a great job and, of course, derby time is something special and that was already obvious to see that in the under-21 match."