OPINION
Paul Dummett’s injury on international duty for Wales has demonstrated that Newcastle United desperately need left back reinforcements in January.
The Chronicle reported on Friday that the club were anxiously waiting for an update on the 27-year-old after he limped off during Wales’ defeat to Denmark.
This is a huge blow for manager Rafael Benitez, who does not have a trusted left back to replace the long-time Magpies star.
Dummett, on a reported £28,000-per-week at St James’ Park [Source: Spotrac], has been the incumbent at left for Newcastle for some time now, and Benitez has seemingly neglected to provide him with adequate back up.
Achraaf Lazaar is at the club but he has barely featured under Benitez. Other than that, the Spaniard would be looking at non left backs to come in and fill the role if Dummett faces time on the sidelines.
Kenedy and Jaiver Manquillo have both operated in the position in the past, while centre half Ciaran Clark is also capable of playing on the left hand side of the defence.
Benitez’s scrambling for an answer shows that he needs to bring in another left back in the January transfer window.
There’s no one providing competition for Dummett even when he is fit, and once he develops an injury, like in this case, it’s a disaster for the Magpies.
Benitez must know this. It’s a similar situation on the right hand side of the defence, where DeAndre Yedlin knows that Manquillo isn’t going to usurp him in Benitez’s thoughts any time soon.
It’s imperative that the club avoid a repeat of this situation in the future by bringing in another left back once the winter transfer window opens; they could be doomed if they don’t.