But ultimately, despite not always winning the individual contests with the hosts’ wide players, the young Congo star left the field with his head held high after a brilliant showing.
Mbemba was just one of a number of players who dug in and ensured Newcastle took a point back to the North East with them, and while Fabricio Coloccini was the star-man, the former Anderlecht player had the better individual statistics.
Playing at right-back in the absence of the suspended Daryl Janmaat, Mbemba made 17 effective clearances throughout the match, while he also won a very impressive 12 duels.
Time and again the Newcastle player showed he was not fazed by the occasion and it is clear the club have made a wonderful addition to their squad.
With four succesful aerial battles, one interception and having been dispossessed just once all afternoon, Mbemba put in quite a shift, and it seems he is just as effective out wide as he is in the heart of defence.