Exclusive | Newcastle loanee Trevan Sanusi on his Lorient loan: ‘I feel like France was a good place to kick-start my career.’ | OneFootball

English players making the move across the Channel was once an anomaly, but not anymore. Beyond the contingent of English players at RC Strasbourg Alsace (Samuel Amo-Ameyaw, Ben Chilwell, Martial Godo), the likes of Eric Dier (AS Monaco) and Tyler Morton (Olympique Lyonnais) also made the move to Ligue 1 over the summer. 

Even more recently, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri joined Olympique de Marseille on loan, with a view to bolstering his chances of making a career at his formative club. Newcastle United’s Trevan Sanusi (18) also falls into that category. 

“I think it was more of a club and a personal decision for me because I feel like I believe that I have some talent that I think needs to be shown and so did the club and I felt like France was a good place to kick-start my career and go into a professional game, show my qualities and develop as a man and then develop as a player as well,” Sansui told Get French Football News in an exclusive interview facilitated by the LFP Media’s international department.

The growing English contingent in Ligue 1 weighed into Sanusi’s decision, as he joined FC Lorient on a straight loan until the end of the season last summer. “That was one of the reasons I came over here because I saw the development of English players who come from England to France, and I thought that if they could do it, I could do it, and obviously that’s going to help me develop, so it was a no-brainer,” the Newcastle loanee told us, evoking one of the major reasons for his move away from Tyneside last summer: “I’ve started to realise that I’m actually coming out of my comfort zone. But, of course, it’s a good thing for me to develop,” he said.

Sanusi endures ‘difficult’ upon Lorient arrival

Newcastle also aim for Sanusi to develop physically while in France, and with Ligue 1’s physicality replicating that of the Premier League, it is making it an increasingly popular destination for English clubs to send their talents. Sanusi has already felt that.

“I feel like they are developing me quite quickly, and I feel like I’m adapting in training as well. When I first came, I was surprised. I knew it was going to be physical, but I didn’t know how aggressive people were! I’m adapting, and I feel like it’s going to help me when I go back to Newcastle,” said the winger.

However, the utility of the loan was dented when the England youth international sustained an ankle sprain upon his arrival in Brittany. “Those few months were really, really difficult for me,” he admitted, as he was forced to wait until December to make his debut for Les Merlus.

Sanusi added, “I haven’t been injured too much in my career, but I think the time that I got injured was not the greatest, since I was going to go unknown, and it was a time for me to prove myself, but obviously, I got unlucky. I just had to stay strong and keep going and get myself back.”

He was therefore made to wait for his debut for Les Merlus, which came in a Coupe de France tie against minnows AS Gosier in the Coupe de France at the end of December. Sanusi admits to being “nervous” before coming on, but it didn’t show as he netted one goal and registered an assist in a comfortable 7-0 win.

Sanusi dreams of Newcastle breakthrough

He now wants to make his mark in Ligue 1. He was on the bench for Lorient’s 2-0 away to Stade Rennais at Roazhon Park last weekend. “The atmosphere was crazy. I saw the team’s energy before the game… I did have a feeling, I was always backing the team to win, and I’ve seen the training sessions, how we are. I’ve seen the manager, how hard he pushes us. So I feel like it was bound to happen,” said the Englishman.

Les Merlus have been one of the surprise packages in Ligue 1 this season, exceeding expectations. For Sanusi, it is a feat achieved thanks to the “standards” set in training, by Olivier Pantaloni, which allows them to aim “higher and higher”, rather than looking over their shoulder.

Sanusi says that he has been particularly impressed by Pablo Pagis, but he now wants to make his own impact in the second half of the season. He has set his sights on getting “a couple of stats under [his] belt”, which he thinks will be facilitated by Lorient’s play style, based on quick transitions: “That’s where I tend to do my magic. I’m just excited for the time to come.”

The idea is for Lorient to be a springboard into the Newcastle first-team for next season. “Obviously, my dream is to play for Newcastle, to break into the squad and be part of that first team. I think the coach (Eddie Howe) is really strict and has high standards, but I feel like when I’m over there, he does try to push me, and I feel like this is part of the reason I came over here to develop. And hopefully when I go back, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and try and break into the squad as much as I can,” says Sanusi.

He added, “But if I have to go on another loan and do the same thing again, I’m up for the challenge. And a return to Ligue 1? Definitely. I think coming back would be great as well.” 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle