Achraf Lazaar has spoken of his relief at getting a second chance at Newcastle United.
The left-sided player made his return in a United shirt in the 4-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Nanjing on Wednesday night.
Lazaar had been frozen out by Rafa Benitez and farmed out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday.
He now has the fortunate opportunity to rebuild his Toon career under the same man who tried to save him from the scrap heap in Steve Bruce.
Lazaar, speaking in China on the club’s pre-season tour, told the Chronicle: “Before I was thinking it was one big drama for me, because I never thought it would happen to me - not playing, being in a big team and then put outside of the team.
“But I got a big experience, and I went to Sheffield Wednesday.
“They helped my career, they helped me a lot. I got my confidence.
“I got everything I needed to have. I’m back here and I’m going to give everything and work hard every single day and we will see what will happen.”
Lazaar says he is looking forward to working with Bruce again - despite the frosty reception he has received on Tyneside.
Lazaar said: “Before I went to Sheffield Wednesday I talked about him with my team-mates in Morocco and some team-mates in England. They talked so good about him.
“He’s helped a lot of people. He’s a great manager.
“I’m so happy to see him again and work with him, because I think he was one of the people who helped me a lot.
“I’m happy he signed for the club.
“I can’t wait to see him and to work again with him. We will see.”
United were thrashed in their first game against Wolves and face West Ham in the battle for the wooden spoon in Shanghai.
Lazaar reflected: “When you lose, always, you don’t like it.
“Now it’s pre-season, and we have to get more fit.
“We have to know what we have to do.
“We get prepared for the Premier League. It’s hard.
“We have to work harder and think now about the next game.”
