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Mapou Hopes To Reign In Ukraine
Written by Newcastle Utd
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa believes Newcastle still have a great chance of progressing against Metalist Kharkiv and speaks about settling in at St. James'
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa remains confident ahead of Thursday's Europa League round of 32 second leg clash at Metalist Kharkiv despite last week's 0-0 draw at St. James' Park.
The January signing made his full debut for Newcastle against the men from the Ukraine as Papiss Cisse had two goals controversially ruled out and a host of other opportunities for Alan Pardew's side went begging.
United would have loved a lead to defend at the Metalist Stadium but Yanga-Mbiwa at least helped to ensure that they did not concede a potentially costly away goal and he believes the Magpies can finish the job this week.
"It's fair to say we did have our chances to come away with victory but unfortunately we couldn't," he told nufcTV.
"However there were a lot of positives to take out of the match and we'll go away in the second leg, try and get one or two goals and come away with a victory.
"I was very excited to get going in the Newcastle shirt, especially at St. James' Park.
"It was good to get my foot in the door and show the team that I can work well with the squad.
"Obviously the manager wants a squad that will work well together, where everyone can play, where everyone has their position and where we can go and get some good results and move away from the bottom end of the Premier League and hope to do some good things with the team."
Having showed that he can adapt on the pitch - despite playing in a less-favoured right-back role against Metalist - the former Montpellier man has also wasted no time in settling off it.
"I'm liking my life here in Newcastle," he revealed. "I'm getting to know the city a lot better and little by little finding places that I like.
"The players who were already here have given me some good tips of great places to go and I'm looking forward to looking around a little bit more.
"It's just a little bit cold, perhaps - but I'm starting to get used to it."
To watch the full post-match nufcTV interview with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, click here
