{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Newcastle 28-year-old vents frustrations, this is what I'm doing to prove a point
By Matt Farr
Newcastle attacker Siem de Jong has admitted he is taking inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo in a bid to win his ongoing battle against injury.
The 28-year-old has been hampered with a number of different injuries since arriving at St. James’ Park in 2014, and has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Newcastle first-team.
Newcastle allowed him to return to Holland last summer to join PSV on loan until the end of the season, in a bid to prove his fitness with the attacker expected to return to the club at the end of his spell.
He is under contract on Tyneside until 2020, and could have a role to play in the first team squad in the coming seasons, but he must first prove he can stay fit for a prolonged period.
Speaking to Dutch publication nrc.nl, de Jong revealed he was taking inspiration from Real Madrid sensation Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his ongoing struggles.
Get Exclusive transfers news at Football Insider's YouTube TV channel
In his bid to prove his fitness, he admitted he was working hard every day to improve himself as a player, just like Ronaldo did to become one of the best in the world.
He said: “Injuries are never good, but mine was very poor timing. It was sometimes frustrating, but at the same time you workout that you try to still see the game and how you can influence it.
“I became aware that you should do something every day to improve yourself. The ultimate example remains Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He knew that he had to do so much more to be the best and does so when he has more distractions of peripheral issues than, for example, myself.”
De Jong managed just five league appearances during his first season at the club, following his £6million move from Ajax.
The six-time capped Holland international saw his start to life at St. James’ Park cut abruptly short by a thigh injury, before suffering a second collapsed lung in as many seasons.
But he has managed seven goals from 24 appearances in all competitions for PSV this season, and has remained largely injury-free since the start of November.
In other Newcastle news, the Magpies are close to signing this Everton defender following a major development.
We’ve launched a << BREAKING NEWS FEED>> exclusively for your club. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Newcastle breaking news.