Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he thinks on loan defender Valentino Lazaro will be disappointed with the lack of game time he has had in the Premier League since his arrival.
The Austrian national team player arrived at the Magpies back in the January transfer window in a six month loan with option to buy deal from Inter, who he had only joined six months prior in a circa €20 million deal from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin.
“I think he’s just getting used to playing in the Premier League, but now its finishing,” Bruce explained in his post-match press conference following his side’s goalless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday.
“I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with the amount of game time he’s had, but, look, up until two, three games ago, the team was playing very, very well, and he couldn’t find his way into it.
“So it’s been difficult for the boy, but I still like him as a player and as a lad. He’ll look at the game time, and think he hasn’t had enough.”
Lazaro came on for a four minute cameo appearance at the end of the match at The Amex Stadium. Although it was his 12th league appearance for the club, he has played for a total of just 381 minutes.
All in all, since his arrival, the 23-year-old has made 14 appearances across all competitions, in which he has scored two goals.
