After a whirlwind few days for St Johnstone’s new recruit Mehdi Abeid, the highly-rated midfielder says he is out to prove a point at the Perth club.

Frustrated by being frozen out of the picture at Newcastle, the 20-year-old revealed he decided to swap St James’ Park for Saints following a recommendation from reserve team manager and former Scotland international Willie Donachie.

His loan deal was signed, sealed and delivered in double quick time on transfer deadline day, and Abeid admits his head was in a bit of a spin when thrown in at the deep end against St Mirren in Saturday’s 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat.

However, the French-born playmaker who was hailed recently as one of football’s “future stars” by Magpies’ team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa is determined to show Saints’ fans his mettle over the coming months.

“It was a rush in the last 24 hours of the transfer window but I am happy to be here and hope to play a lot of football for St Johnstone,” he explained.

“I don’t know much about St Johnstone but my U21 manager Willie Donachie told me it is a good club and it will be good experience for me.

“He said it is better for me to play games in Scotland than sit on the bench at Newcastle. So I have taken his advice.”

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