Jonas Gutierrez says he’s been impressed by the way Italian international Davide Santon has settled into the English game with Newcastle.
The Argentine international insists that the former Inter full-back has really added another attacking dimension to the Magpies play since his arrival from Italy last summer.
Yet Gutierrez feels there are one or two aspects to his game that the youngster still has to develop.
Jonas Gutierrez says he’s been impressed by the way Italian international Davide Santon has settled into the English game with Newcastle.
The Argentine international insists that the former Inter full-back has really added another attacking dimension to the Magpies play since his arrival from Italy last summer.
Yet Gutierrez feels there are one or two aspects to his game that the youngster still has to develop.
“He loves to get forward,” the 28-year-old noted. “However, he sometimes has to know the moment to go and the moment to stay back.
“But he is young and he will learn that. He has too much energy and maybe he just wants to show what he can do.
“For me, that is incredible. With an offensive player you just have to give him the ball and he will do the rest.
“I don't mind sharing the defensive responsibilities with him. I like helping him. When we have to defend we try and hold it all together. But I think he's a really, really good player.
“He is only really young. The Premier League is very tough – it takes a long time for you to get ready for it. But he has made a very good start.”
The 21-year-old defender himself feels settled and, although he claims he was sad to leave San Siro, he is content with life on Tyneside.
“It was the right time for me to leave Inter,” he insisted. “It was not an easy choice, but this is a historic club and a historic city and I am really happy to be here.
“I can play left-back or right-back and I like to attack and to defend too. We have done well so far this season with our style of play.”