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Jonas: "I Felt Good"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Jonas Gutierrez has spoken of his delight after making his Newcastle comeback on Monday after beating cancer
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
After winning the biggest match of his life, Jonas Gutierrez's first game back on a football pitch was a second-string cup tie on a windy December afternoon in the modest surroundings of Whitley Park, the headquarters of the Northumberland FA.
But that didn't matter to the Argentine ace, who has represented his country at a World Cup and played more than 170 times in the Premier League - and the 31-year-old who has shared a dressing room with the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Angel Di Maria was full of praise for his young team-mates.
Newcastle beat West Ham 4-1 in the Under-21 Premier League Cup thanks to goals from Gael Bigirimana, Adam Campbell, Callum Roberts and Liam Gibson but the majority of the 468 crowd were there simply to see Gutierrez pull on the black and white shirt for the first time since overcoming cancer.
And, after completing 87 minutes and captaining the side, he told nufcTV: "I really enjoyed being back for the first game after all the treatment.
"It was a hard time but now I'm happy to be back, to train with the lads and to play in the under-21s. It's good for me to get fit and to be involved in the first team if I can."
After everything he had been through over the last few months, many would have expected Gutierrez to play a half, or maybe an hour at the most. Instead, he was only replaced by Dan Ward three minutes before the full-time whistle.
He received a standing ovation and admitted that he was keen to play on for as long as possible.
"I wanted to, but you have to see during the game how you're feeling," he smiled.
"And I felt good. As the game went on, I started feeling better and stronger. But it was the first (game). It was hard and now I want to continue to be back."
The crowd was far bigger than normal for a Monday lunchtime Reserve team game - more evidence of the esteem he's held in by the Magpies faithful.
He thanked them for their well-wishes in an exclusive nufcTV interview which was also broadcast in part on the big screen at St. James' Park before Sunday's game against Sunderland, but was keen to again acknowledge the Newcastle fans.
"They've always supported me since I came here and since I had my problem, they were with me all the time and sending me messages," he said.
"I really appreciate that and I have to say thank you for all the support that they've given me - and the same to the lads that played with me (against West Ham) because they ran a lot to help me and they had patience when I missed a pass or I lost the ball.
"So I want to say as well to them, thank you, because for me it was really important to be back, to play and to win. No matter what league it is, you have to always think about winning.
"So I say thanks to them and to the fans for helping me in this situation."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Jonas Gutierrez - and young midfielder Liam Smith