Mikel Merino believes he is a “better player” than when he first joined Newcastle United due to Rafa Benitez’s coaching.
The 21-year-old midfielder initially signed for the Magpies on a season-long loan deal from Borussia Dortmund last summer, before making his move permanent late last year.
After a very impressive start to his United career, a lower-back injury - which the midfielder described as “the worst I’ve had” - has seen Merino struggle to rediscover his best form.
Yet the Spain Under-21 international believes he is improving with every passing game.
“I’m feeling good. I’m starting again to play football and feel like a valuable player again,” Merino said when asked to assess his first six months as a Magpie.
Newcastle United's Mikel Merino (Image: PA)
“I think that the Premier League is a hard league, a tough league. Players are strong, fast, quick.
“It’s different to what I was used to in Spain. It’s a different kind of football. I’m learning about it, and I’m happy to be in this competitive league.
“I’m learning a lot. I know I have a lot more things to learn. I will try to do it.”
Merino attracted interest from Athletic Bilbao in his native Spain during the summer, and was close to joining them at one stage.
However, Benitez proved a big pull for Merino, who believes his all-round game is improving and flourishing under the former Real Madrid manager.
“When you’re playing against the best and you’re with the best, you learn more,” Merino said of working with Benitez.
“I think I’m a better player now than when I arrived. This is what it is. You have to try to improve every single day, and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“I’m trying to be the best player I can and be the most competitive and complete player I can be.”
Merino has started just one match so far in 2018, the 3-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Luton Town at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United's Mikel Merino celebrates scoring his side's first goal (Image: PA)
The Magpies face Chelsea in the fourth round at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and Merino hopes he is given the opportunity to impress in a competition he holds aspirations of winning at some stage.
“Yes, I watched it. It was a huge game,” Merino replied when asked if he had watched Chelsea’s third-round replay victory over Norwich City.
“This is the kind of game we love to see, because you see a huge club like Chelsea can suffer against a second division club like Norwich. This is the beautiful game.
“When you’re in Spain, you just know that there are a lot of cups in England. You don’t know which one is more special than the other!
“In Spain, when you have a cup, the stadiums are not full, because it’s a cup, and it’s not the main championship. Here in England, you have a cup and the stadiums are full, because everybody wants to see that competition. It’s a good thing here in England.
“It’s our idea to try to go as far as we can in every competition. Our mood is always to win every game and give our best.”