Newcastle United fans were left feeling a whole host of emotions on social media after striker Islam Slimani featured for Algeria in their friendly against Iran on Tuesday.
The Magpies striker, who joined the club on loan from Leicester City in the January transfer window, is yet to make an appearance for his new side after arriving with an injury, and has suffered setbacks in his recovery efforts.
Despite his lack of playing time on Tyneside, he was called up to Algeria’s squad for the international break, but was expected to sit out as a spectator for both of their games as he focused on his fitness.
However, he was handed just under 30 minutes of action on Tuesday after he came from the substitutes’ bench, and was handed a yellow card just two minutes after coming on in what was his 55th appearance for his country.
Newcastle fans were left divided on Twitter, some feeling as though it was a good sign while others were horrified to see him playing for his country when he had not featured for the club.
Here, Football Insider has rounded up a selection of the supporters’ best tweets:
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Slimani played just under a half hour for Algeria. 🇩🇿. I suspect he will need few more miles in his legs to play for us. Lacked sharpness mobility missed a sitter and got booked. We had Mitro for that.
— N.U.F.C (@theNUFCpage) March 27, 2018
I don't think Algeria should have played Slimani Newcastle United pay his wages and he is yet to play for his club it is totally unacceptable
— george langlands (@15splinter) March 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/NufcJay18/status/978697547593199617
Slimani playing doe his country. Good signs for saturday!
— Ryan Anthony Moseley (@RyanMoseleynufc) March 27, 2018
@1HowardWalker @dancingbear76 Slimani has had 25 mins for Algeria. Getting there.
— David Punton (@DavePunton) March 27, 2018
Absolutely outrageous slimani coming on for Algeria tonight like
— rhys dawson (@rhysdawson11) March 27, 2018
Best way to look at it he’s playing so he should be on the bench Saturday
— Lee Johnson ⚫️⚪️ POPWORLD MAGS 🙋🏼♂️ (@Lee18_92Johnson) March 27, 2018
Slimani's 25 minutes for Algeria tonight… #NUFC pic.twitter.com/NDS2t5jPmP
— Newcastle Toons (@NewcastleToons) March 27, 2018
Slimani had not appeared for either club or country since the FA Cup third round replay against Fleetwood Town for Leicester, chipping in with an assist on the way to a 2-0 victory.
He has a total of 17 appearances across all competitions this season, all coming for the Foxes, and it awaits to be seen whether he will be fit enough for Newcastle’s home clash against Huddersfield on Saturday.
In other Newcastle United team news, another senior star has picked up a injury on international duty ahead of the clash with Huddersfield.
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