Sunday 10 September 2017 15:31, UK
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino considers himself "blessed" to be playing for Newcastle United.
The Premier League side caused a few raised eyebrows when managing to capture Merino on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund in August.
The exciting Spain U21 international had played a key role in helping his country reach the final of last summer's European Championships in Poland.
However, after only featuring nine times for the Bundesliga club last season, the 21-year-old opted to spend this campaign in the north east, a decision he does not regret.
"Little by little I am understanding everything, how English people play football, I am happy here and I think this is going to be a good year," he said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.
"The Premier League is a really strong league, very physical, all the players are ready to fight for every ball and maybe it is the strongest league in the world.
"It has a huge base and strength and I have to learn about it, when I can play, when I cannot. This is just about minutes and game time and I think I will improve."
Already, though, Merino is proving to be a huge favourite with the Newcastle fans, some of whom have even be heard joking he is too good to be playing for them.
"I am so honoured about the compliments they are saying to me," he said. "I am really happy here and blessed to play at St James' Park with this crowd.
"Always when you go to the stadium, to see all the crowd shouting and screaming is crazy. And I am really happy that they said that about me and that means I am working hard and doing the right things and I am really happy."
Merino should head into Sunday afternoon's encounter at Swansea City, a clash you can see live on Sky Sports Premier League, full of confidence after a brilliant goal against Italy U21s in midweek.
The Spaniard nutmegged an Azzurri defender on his way to scoring, although he warns Newcastle's supporters not to expect such trickery from him every week.
"These things are good when you do it, but are dangerous as then everyone expects it always," joked Merino.
"But that is the way I play football and at that moment, I thought it was the best decision and was good for me and the team.
"Maybe next time it goes bad, but I expect to keep doing things good, it may not always be nutmegs, but good passes."
One player Merino may come face to face with in midfield at the Liberty this weekend is Renato Sanches, another eye-catching loanee from the Bundesliga and someone he crossed paths with at the Euros in June.
"I played against him for the U21s in the Euro Cup against Portugal and I know he is a good player already with Swansea," he said.
"He is a young player who has been having a tough year with Bayern Munich because of the low minutes played. But for Swansea he is a good player and he will do well and I know he has a great future."
After beginning Newcastle's Premier League opener at home to Tottenham Hotspur on the substitutes' bench, manager Rafa Benitez - who may miss the trip to South Wales with injury - then handed Merino a first-ever start the following week at Huddersfield Town.
The Magpies, however, suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the John Smith's Stadium, with Merino's role in the Terriers' winner coming in for criticism from Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness.
The player, though, has brushed off the former Newcastle manager's words, preferring instead to simply concentrate on getting better.
"I do not need anything to motivate me," Merino said. "I am always motivated and I know I have to train 100 per cent every day to improve.
"I heard something about some words he said, but I do not give it importance, just focus on myself and improve. I know that sometimes people will criticise you and other times they will say you are so good.
"I do not pay attention to these things because I know that the football is up and down. You never know, one day you are very good and the next day you are not good. So I focus on myself and improve every day."
Watch Newcastle's game against Swansea on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 3.30pm on Sunday, while watch the full interview with Mikel Merino on Soccer Saturday from noon on Sky Sports News
