WATCH: Anthony Elanga talks about 'Geordie mentality' as he returns to Newcastle

There are few players with as much of a point to prove next season as Newcastle United's Anthony Elanga.

Elanga was one of a trio of summer signings who failed to really get going at Newcastle last season, the others being Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, but of the three, it's Elanga who has the fewest excuses.

Yoane Wissa picked up a bad injury before he even trained with the club, and like Wissa, Nick Woltemade was signed after the season got underway, so he had no pre-season and very little time to train with the group. Woltemade also came in from the Bundesliga with zero Premier League experience.

Elanga, meanwhile, came to Newcastle early in the window, so had the bulk of pre-season and arrived off the back of an impressive campaign with Nottingham Forest.

Elanga spoke of the 'Geordie Mentality'

Eddie Howe was a long-term admirer of Elanga, and Newcastle wouldn't have signed him if they hadn't done all of their homework, so why it never clicked for him last year is a mystery.

However, Elanga looked razor sharp at the World Cup for Sweden, scoring two goals for his country, and it looks as though he's ready to ride that wave for his club, having returned to training already.

Elanga was filmed on his first day back, telling the media crew that he missed them before going on to say that tiredness is a mentality thing and your brain can tell your body it's not tired. Calling it the "Geordie mentality".

Bring that World Cup form to St James' Park

It may be too soon for Elanga to feature in today's game against Darlington, but we'll get to see how he's looking in the upcoming friendlies.

We've got everything crossed that things fall into place for him this season because we know there's a player there, but last season he played as if it was his first time on a football pitch every time he came on.

Give us World Cup Elanga, and we'll be very happy people!