Newcastle loan player Kevin Mbabu was measured on Sunday as second fastest player in the World behind Gareth Bale.
Set to return to Newcastle for pre-season training at the start of July, Kevin Mbabu has been making his mark whilst at Young Boys on loan for a year.
The 22 year old versatile defender returned to his homeland for a season, after Rafa Bentitez deemed that he needed regular first football to progress his game and give the player the necessary experience.
Despite only five first team appearances for Newcastle due in part to injuries, fans were impressed with what they saw, especially in Premier League matches against Chelsea and Manchester City.
Kevin Mbabu has had a decent season back in Switzerland, making 24 appearances so far (final league match of the season this Friday) and helping his loan club to finish as runners-up in the league.#
With only three points left to play for tomorrow (Friday), Young Boys trail Basel by 17 points and are ahead of third placed Lugano by 13 points.
In the 24 games this season, the Newcastle loan player has scored two goals but picked up 10 yellow cards as well as one red.
Mbabu will present Rafa Benitez with one of his more interesting/positive dilemmas with regard to returning loan players, as the United boss looks once again to oversee major changes in terms of players in and out.
News this morning will possibly give extra appeal when Rafa is deciding on Kevin Mbabu, with the Newcastle Manager having made clear that he sees adding pace to his team/squad is essential to be able to compete in the Premier League.
In Sunday’s Swiss league match against FC Thun, Mbabu was measured at 36.1km/h when chasing down an attacking player and making a crucial saving tackle.
According to official records/data, only Gareth Bale (36.9km/h) has been measured as achieving a higher speed during a competitive match.
With Vurnon Anita set to be released and the recruitment of DeAndre Yedlin, Rafa Benitez has already recognised the need for added pace in his defence, so will Kevin Mbabu have done enough to be part of Newcastle’s plans going forward?
In those appearances against Chelsea and Manchester City, Mbabu suggested like Yedin, that he has the pace, stamina and ability to do that modern day full-back role of getting up and down the full length of the pitch, to be a key part of the attacking pay as well as defending.
Edge Technology Press Release:
‘Kevin Mbabu, the Newcastle United player currently out on loan in Switzerland with Young Boys, has been recorded with a top speed of 36.1km/h.
The record has been made during last game against FC Thun, sprinting for a defensive task, and finishing by a spectacular sliding tackle.
It makes him the second fastest player in the world, just behind Gareth Bale (36.9km/h), measured on a official football game.
Kevin Mbabu has been training with a personal performance coach since 2017, in order to improve his skills, speed and explosiveness.’