Santiago Munoz has integrated well into the Newcastle United Under-23 team's hard working style in good manner - says Toon coach Elliott Dickman. The United reserve team manager has turned fortunes around in Premier League 2 and is on course to guide the Magpies to their first play-off spot in three years.
Mexican Under-23 international Munoz, now well into his 18 month loan deal from Santos Laguna, has now shaken off a hamstring injury and scored his first goal for the club in the 4-3 win over West Bromwich Albion. For Dickman, who has watched him build up his fitness behind the scenes, it was a great moment.
The United coach said: "He's had a frustrating time with his injury but fair play against West Brom because he took his goal well and contributed to the team. "It's not just Santi, it was a whole team effort from everyone and I've got to give all the players credit because their attitude was terrific."
READ MORE: Santiago Munoz opens up after goalscoring Newcastle debut
Newcastle's youngsters found themselves 2-0 down at the break but goals from Munoz, Niall Brookwell, Nathan Carlyon and Josh Scott clinched a dramatic win. Scott's winner in stoppage time sparked wild scenes as the youngsters celebrated their success.
Dickman added: "It was a bit of a rollercoaster. I thought we played well, especially in the second half but even in the first half, I thought we played some nice football and had a nice way about us and managed to create some half-chances.
"I was really disappointed with the two goals we conceded and I don't think we deserved to be coming in at half-time 2-0 down but fair play to the players. They had a few messages at half-time to keep going, keep believing in themselves and just tidy up in the final third a little bit.
"We felt the game was there for us if we did score the first goal, the next goal was the crucial one and we got it with an excellent goal from Santi."
Having turned it around from 0-2 to 3-2, Newcastle then conceded an equaliser with four minutes left but Dickman was always confident his team could churn out another chance. Dickman said: "First of all, I was disappointed to concede at the time we did. I still thought we'd get another chance and it was just down to having a bit of quality once we had that chance.
"This group has that never say die attitude, they just keep going and they want to win and they want to perform. It's a great environment and the culture that we've got in the group is really positive at the moment. We had a similar game at Norwich a few weeks back which was similar when we were 3-0 down and we got it back to win 4-3."
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