EMIL KRAFTH is relishing the physical challenge of competing in the Premier League, and is happy with the way he has settled into life at Newcastle United.

Krafth joined the Magpies in a £5m move from French side Amiens in the summer, and while he missed the opening-day defeat to Arsenal, he has started all of the club’s subsequent games.

While some overseas signings take time to adapt to life in the English top-flight, Krafth has slipped seamlessly into his new surroundings, with his performance in the 1-0 win at Tottenham proving especially impressive as he helped neuter an attack that appeared in the Champions League final as recently as June.

“It’s been good so far,” said Krafth, who played the second half of Sweden’s Euro 2020 qualifying win in the Faroe Islands last night. “I think, compared to the French league, it’s similar.

“It’s a physical league here in England. I knew that was coming. I’m very happy to be here, and I’m looking forward to playing a lot more games.”

Krafth will remain with his international set-up ahead of Sweden’s eagerly-awaited home game with local neighbours Norway on Sunday night, but the 25-year-old already has half an eye on Newcastle’s return to domestic duty, which will see Steve Bruce’s side head to Anfield to take on league leaders Liverpool in eight days’ time.

The full-back is enjoying his time on Tyneside, and has been pleased with the ease at which he has settled into a new dressing room.

“It’s been good,” he said. “It’s an open team. Everybody talks to everybody. That, for me, is how it’s supposed to be. We’re a team, and we do this together. Everybody should talk to everybody. That’s how I feel.

“They’ve taken care of me. It’s different when you come to England compared to the other countries, as you know the language. It can take months to get to know the language somewhere else. Here, you come in and you already know the language. It’s easier for you to settle into the team and talk to everybody.”

Meanwhile, Fabian Schar was in goalscoring form last night as his second-half strike helped Sweden claim a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.