Ki Sung-yueng believes Newcastle United fans will see the very best of him during the 2019/20 season following the first summer-long rest of his career.
The former South Korea international had a mixed debut campaign on Tyneside, making 18 Premier League appearances, but also finding himself out of the side for long periods due to injury problems and his involvement in the Asian Cup.
However, after retiring from international duty earlier in 2019, the 30-year-old has been able to enjoy a six-week rest period this summer - which is the first time he has gone more than a month without games, barring injury, throughout his professional career so far.
And, while Rafa Benitez's future at Newcastle remains uncertain, Ki certainly hopes he gets the opportunity to work with the Magpies manager again next season, should he sign a new deal.
“I had an injury, and then the first period of the season I didn’t play much. I went to the Asian Cup, and came back with the injury, so it was a little bit confused," Ki reflected upon his first season on Tyneside.
“But, I think, it was a great experience working with the manager. He’s the top manager in the league. I learnt a lot of things from him. Hopefully, next season, it’ll be better than this season.”
With Mo Diame's contract expiring at the end of the month, Jonjo Shelvey's future uncertain, Isaac Hayden desperate to depart and Sean Longstaff a transfer target for Manchester United, Ki is the only Newcastle midfielder guaranteed to be at St James' Park come the start of the new campaign.
And Ki believes being able to mentally, as well as physically, rest up this summer will ensure he is in prime condition to really impress at St James' Park in 2019/20.
“This will be the first full vacation of my career. I want to rest very well with my family, as that’s never happened in my life before," Ki - who joined Newcastle on a free transfer from Swansea City last summer - added.
"I always had international games in my holidays. So, hopefully, I’ll spend six weeks well, and come back stronger - stronger than last season.
“After the World Cup, I had two or three weeks off, and I didn’t prepare well in pre-season. Hopefully, next season the pre-season will be much stronger, and I will do better than last season.
“Yes, of course [it's important to mentally rest as well]. If you have international games, you have to train - that’s not rest.
"You have to train and play in the summer, and after that you three weeks off and have to come back to the team. It’s very difficult.
"Mentally, of course, you need a rest, because the whole season you have a lot of pressure and stress from the games and everything. Hopefully, it’s going to be a nice break.”
