Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has backed former Atletico Madrid defender Jesus Gamez to be a real hit at Newcastle United.

The Sky Sports pundit knows all about Gamez’s capabilities after watching him star for Malaga and last season’s Champions League finalists.

Gamez’s move to United raised some eyebrows after he opted to swap life in La Liga for a stint in English football’s second flight.

However, Balague feels it could be a shrewd piece of business by the Magpies.

He said: “When he was at Malaga he looked like one of the best players they had.

“His engine going up and down offered them the depth you don’t always get with that type of team.

“Physically he’s not scared of any challenges and that’s what won him the move to Atletico Madrid.

“Atletico were looking for full-backs and wanted people who knew who to go forward, but especially, knew how to depend.

“And I think he may have found at Atletico his maximum level.

“He couldn’t do it regularly enough either because Diego Simeone demands full-backs to go forward and also defend.

“He had to improve on that.

“But being with Simeone has made his abilities better.”

And when asked to describe Gamez the player, Balague said: “He peaks when going forward, but he also has the defensive mentality to win the ball back when the team loses it.

“So all in all, he has decent attributes.

“Perhaps Atletico Madrid now need somebody who could do it more consistently and with a bit more quality.

“But Gamez has a good engine, technically he is good and he his attitude was always brilliant, he’s a really good guy.”