Donachie Hails Xisco Attitude

By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Within minutes of his hat-trick for Newcastle's under-21 side against Stoke on Monday night, Xisco was trending in the United Kingdom on Twitter as thousands of supporters typed their support for the Spanish striker.

But although he's not one for social networking, nobody was happier with the 26-year-old's treble than Reserve Team Manager Willie Donachie who insisted it was exactly what he deserved for the attitude he's shown since linking up with the second-string squad this month.

Two weeks ago, the former Spain under-21 international made his first Magpies appearance since the summer of 2011 in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League win against Villa Park, teeing up Adam Campbell for the opening goal in a 2-1 win.

However on Monday, the ex-Deportivo de La Coruna man took centre stage and Donachie told nufc.co.uk: "Xisco deserved his goals because of his attitude, because of his enthusiasm and work and so that was really rewarding for the team, really: to see Xisco coming in and having a good attitude.

"Those experienced players can come and think they're too good and don't want to work, but Xisco was spot on and deserved his goals."

Xisco was one of three over-age players in the side, the others being summer signing Romain Amalfitano and French midfielder Sylvain Marveaux, who was appearing for the under-21s for the first time this season.

And Donachie was also pleased with the role played by the one-time Rennes player, explaining: "Sylvain's simplicity is an example to the others.

"You don't need to be clever and do outrageous things - just do the simple things well and then when you have to do something good, do it. That's the message to them and that's what Sylvain did. Before it comes to him, he knows what he's got to do with the ball and just gives it simple.

"That's all we're asking from all of them."

His side delivered against the Potters, who had also been on the wrong end of a 5-1 defeat against the Magpies at the Britannia Stadium last month.

In truth, against a Stoke side without a first-team appearance between them, Newcastle started as strong favourites but Donachie was nontheless delighted with the application shown by the Magpies, who took the lead through James Tavernier before Xisco's treble and Mehdi Abeid's second goal in two matches. James Alabi pulled one back in the last minute.

Donachie said: "On paper it's an easy game but as I said to them there's no such thing as an easy game - you've still got to work hard and make it happen and I thought their attitude on the whole was very good.

"They did work hard, made a lot of chances and scored the goals. And apart from the last minute it would have been a clean sheet, our first clean sheet, which was disappointing but I'm not too bothered about that. Winning the game was the main thing.

"Adam (Campbell) was a different class. At the start of the game when we were making chances, it was all down to Adam. He was the one who was getting behind them, getting the shots off and he's just fantastic; great for the team and a great threat.

"When Tav scored a great header that was the breakthrough. Then when we got the second we knew if we got a third that would be it all over, and thankfully that's what we got."