No marvel Newcastle had been monitoring Thiaw’s progress at Milan for a while.

There was a perception throughout the membership that it will be troublesome to seek out one other defender with the same profile for such a worth, notably one as imposing, athletic and cozy on the ball.

Thiaw, crucially, was additionally eager on the transfer.

He had a productive chat with Howe and was understood to have seen Newcastle as a “match” for his ambitions.

He was “proud” of Newcastle’s curiosity after personally doing his homework on the membership and the Premier League.

In reality, Paul Winsper, a excessive efficiency marketing consultant who beforehand labored for Newcastle, says he was even capable of “promote the North East a little bit bit” to Thiaw throughout a coaching camp within the Lake District a number of weeks beforehand.

Winsper, who has additionally labored with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, England rugby union captain Maro Itoje and Actual Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, all the time backed the 24-year-old to “relish” life at St James’ Park.

“I am not saying AC Milan usually are not an enormous membership – they’re – however it’s a distinct ambiance at Newcastle and he has the character,” Winsper mentioned.

“His mentality jogs my memory a whole lot of Toni Rudiger. Whenever you get him below strain, he’s going to thrive.”

Thiaw definitely needed to thrive after Fabian Schar suffered a concussion final month.

Solely captain Bruno Guimaraes (167) has made extra appearances for Newcastle than Schar (162) below Howe.

Schar has been such an ever-present at right-sided centre-back that Thiaw initially needed to be affected person to get his likelihood after arriving a number of days earlier than the season began.

However Thiaw used that point on the bench to check video games – witnessing the “chew” and velocity of the Premier League first hand, within the phrases of Howe – and he impressed workers along with his performances in coaching.

So when the time got here to make his full debut, towards Bournemouth, Thiaw was primed to take his likelihood.

Such have been his shows since then, the 6ft 4in Thiaw has stored maintain of the shirt.

That won’t have come as a shock to shut pal Erdem Canpolat, who rose by means of the ranks with Thiaw at Schalke.

“Malick by no means shies away from a problem and all the time needs to steer from the entrance – a real mentality monster,” he mentioned.