Marc Steutel is convinced his commitment to club and country can continue to benefit both parties as the do-it-all Scouser returns to European basketball tonight.
The Newcastle playcaller hooked up with the Eagles in Warsaw yesterday after overseeing Great Britain’s latest EuroBasket clash in Thessaloniki on Sunday.
But Steutel insists there’s plenty left in the tank to ensure his dual career dream lives on — despite a punishing schedule at home and abroad.
Newcastle tackle Rickey McGill’s Dziki Warszawa in the European North Basketball League (ENBL) tonight before a top four clash with Cheshire Phoenix on Friday.
And Steutel insisted: “I’m more confident than ever that I can carry on coaching on both fronts.
“I left Newcastle for the Great Britain camp knowing that the club’s in a great situation.
“I was really excited to jump back into EuroBasket action and I’m just as excited to be back with the guys for what promises to be another tough week.
“I’m aware that we have another really busy period coming up right through until Christmas but I relish the challenge. I love it.
“I’m very open about what it means to me to coach my club and my country.
“I’ll never not make myself available for GB and I know I’ve got the full support of the Eagles’ organisation when I say that.
“It’s important that I talk about what it means to represent the national team and I like to think that reflects positively on the work I do with Newcastle.”
There’s a lot to unpack ahead of tonight’s hotly anticipated clash in the Polish capital — not least the challenge of containing a red hot McGill.
The US star became a firm favourite at the Vertu Motors Arena last season on the back of a series of breakout ENBL displays.
And McGill has maintained that form following his summer switch to Warsaw — leading Dziki in average points (15) and assists (seven) in Europe this season.
Both teams have three wins on the board and Newcastle have the added incentive of staying unbeaten in the ENBL.
Throw in a debut for new signing Christian James — and the return to action of Cole Long — and it’s little wonder pundits have earmarked Dziki-Eagles as the game of the week.
Josh Ward-Hibbert could well be asked to shadow McGill after the fit-again guard narrowly missed the final GB cut for this month’s Greece double header.
And Steutel added: “Josh is way ahead of his timeline, which is a testament to his mentality.
“I’ve never known anyone like him — at any level I’ve been involved in — in terms of how he works.
“His recovery and willingness to get involved with the group again speaks volumes about who is and what this team means to him.
“It was great to see him back against Surrey and I’m hoping he can step things up again this week.”
James arrived in Poland with a full week of Eagles’ practice under his belt and is expected to contribute off the bench against Dziki.
Stuetel’s assistant Gary Stronach is delighted with the US star’s progress and added: “Christian has been settling in and getting to know his new team-mates.
“He’s practiced well all week and I know he’s looking forward to his first Eagles game in Europe and a Vertu Motors Arena debut against Cheshire.”
Long is back in the fold following an approved leave of absence for family reasons, which meant he missed Newcastle’s win against Caledonia Gladiators earlier this month.
And with both Darius Defoe and Will Neighbour targeting December returns to action, the men in black head into a busy period in positive mood.
The game is free to watch live on YouTube tonight at 6pm UK time, which is 7pm in Poland.