Matz Made Up To Be A Magpie

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Goalkeeper Matz Sels says he can't wait to play "in a fantastic stadium for a fantastic crowd" after becoming manager Rafa Benitez's first signing for Newcastle United.

Belgian custodian Sels arrived on Tyneside to put pen to paper on a five-year deal on Tuesday, joining from Jupiler Pro League side Gent.

And now, after sharing his first impressions of United's training ground, the 24-year-old is eager to sample the famous atmosphere inside St. James' Park for the first time.

"It's nice. I think the pitch is looking very good, and also the accommodation as well," Sels told nufc.co.uk, after taking a look around the Magpies' Benton base for the first time.

"I have to go to the stadium as well, and I think I'll be very impressed. The most important thing is getting to play there every two weeks, in a fantastic stadium for a fantastic crowd. I hear the supporters are a little bit crazy, so I'm looking forward to playing for them.

"I've played in the Champions League, so I've already played a few times in front of a lot of people, but it's incredible to play every week in front of 50,000 people. I'm looking forward to playing for them."

Sels won the Professional Goalkeeper of the Year award in Belgium after keeping 18 clean sheets for Gent in all competitions last season.

He made his Champions League bow against Lyon in September, saving a penalty in the process, and a month later he was called up to the senior Belgium squad for their Euro 2016 qualifiers against Andorra and Israel.

At international level, he faces competition from Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool's Simon Mignolet for the number one jersey.

Sels - who puts Belgium's strength in the goalkeeping department down to application - admits that a career between the sticks requires an element of "crazy".

"You have to listen to the trainer and what he says to improve every day. I think it's also a little bit of talent, that you have from yourself," he explained. "If you see Courtois and Mignolet, and the way they play, it's my objective to be there also.

"I was always a goalkeeper. I started playing football when I was five years old, and even then I was a goalkeeper.

"I think, to be a goalkeeper, you have to be a little bit crazy, and maybe I'm a little bit crazy also! It's normal I think - every goalkeeper is a little bit crazy."

The Lint-born custodian lined up against his new Magpies teammates, and former Anderlecht players, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba during his time in Belgium's top flight, which Sels' Gent won in 2014/15.

An established number one in his homeland, he revealed that talks with boss Benitez helped convince him that the switch to St. James' Park was the "perfect" move to make.

And now, having committed himself to the Club until 2021, Sels is looking forward to the challenge of proving himself in English football.

"It's maybe the best competition in the world, and everybody followed the English competitions (in Belgium)," he said. "I followed it last year as well, and it's a great competition. That's why it made my choice really easy, to choose England.

"I talked with Rafa Benitez, and he gave me the impression that we wanted to go up immediately again. It gave me the feeling that I should sign for Newcastle, and it's a big club. A few years ago they played in Belgium in the Europa League, so that means that you're a good club.

"It's a challenge, but if you want to improve, you have to make steps. This, for me, is the perfect step, to improve and to be a better player."