Bong was one of only four players with first-team experience named in the starting line-up to face Villa, and the defender feels that the seven debutants will take plenty of lessons from the 3-1 defeat.
He said, “It was the first game for many of those young players on the pitch and I’m proud of the boys, because they did well.
“We tried to play in the first half and it became a bit harder after we conceded the first goal, but we never gave up and stayed in the game.
“We brought it back to 2-1 after going 2-0 down, and we wanted to stay in the game, but we were unlucky in the end.”
The Cameroonian explained the ways in which Graham Potter is trying to get the side to play free-flowing football and is happy to slot in anywhere across the defence.
“We have played a back five this year and sometimes I can play on the left side or as a centre-back, but if he needs me somewhere, I will do the job.
“I know I’m a left-back, but we’re all adapting to a new system and playing some nice football. We recognise it will take time to get used to it, and we still need to improve.
“As a player, I like to go forward, but I’m working hard for this team and will play in any position that the manager wants me.”
The defender then looked ahead to Saturday’s game against Chelsea and says the side will go to Stamford Bridge with the belief they can play their usual style of possession-based football.
“He wants us to play and I think we did that against Newcastle by playing some nice football. If we keep working, we will get more points. We need time and we will keep working every day.
“If the manager decides to do something else, then he’ll change it. But we’re feeling confident and know what we can do.”