From Toon Flop To World Cup Star?

Last updated : 21 February 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

Ex-Newcastle United man Florian Thauvin is blowing people away in France. If he does the same in Russia this summer, it could be awkward for the Magpies.

Image result for newcastle united Florian ThauvinAsk a Newcastle United fan about Florian Thauvin and you're unlikely to receive glowing feedback.

The 25-year-old joined Newcastle for £12 million in 2015 but struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, failing to score or set up a goal in 13 top-flight games, and was loaned back to Marseille six months later.

Fast forward two years and the French attacker is still at Marseille and proving that, in spite of his Magpies stint, he is actually quite brilliant, scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists for the Ligue 1 giants this season.

On this form, it's very likely that Thauvin - who has six goals in his last four games for Marseille - will be included in Didier Deschamps's France squad for the World Cup and impressing in Russia might be a tad embarrassing for the Magpies.

However, his failure in England was not so much not being good enough for the Premier League, he simply didn't like the country, the climate, or the club.

The media suggest he simply needed more time to acclimatise to the division but he couldn't wait to get away.