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Beardsley - 'Doumbia Reminded Me Of Tino!'
Written by Newcastle Utd
Under-21s coach Peter Beardsley was reminded of his former Newcastle team-mate Faustino Asprilla when Seydou Doumbia played on Monday night
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Peter Beardsley got his first glimpse of Newcastle United new boy Seydou Doumbia on Monday night - and compared the Ivory Coast striker to one of his former 'Entertainers' team-mates.
Doumbia, who joined the Magpies on loan until the end of the season from AS Roma at the end of last month, turned out for Beardsley's under-21s in a 2-1 defeat to Stoke at St. James' Park.
He was replaced at half time after a low-key start to life on Tyneside, with a controversial early red card for Jamie Sterry meaning the forward was somewhat starved of service, but Beardsley saw a hint of the flamboyance and flair which earned a Columbian forward cult hero status in the eyes of the Toon Army.
"Having had him with us yesterday and today, the first thing I thought was 'Tino Asprilla'," Beardsley told nufc.co.uk.
"When he we kicked off, he stepped over the ball and it was funny for me because obviously I used to play with Tino. As stupid as it sounds, that was the highlight of the game for me, when he stepped over the ball!
"The crowd almost went one way and the ball went the other. Class."
Doumbia was mobbed by supporters on the Old Milburn steps after the game and posed for photographs with many of them.
And he was serenaded with a chant of 'Doumbia my Lord, Doumbia' - a ditty which could well catch on at grounds up and down the country when the 28-year-old is unleashed on the Barclays Premier League.
"He'll love it," grinned Beardsley. "He can't speak a lot of English but he's a smiley, happy person and he obviously wants to be here.
"Hopefully, if needed, he'll get the chance to score a few goals."