OPINION
Newcastle United must already regret deciding to confirm the temporary exit of Jamie Sterry as it puts even more pressure of them finding a new right-back in January as Javier Manquillo proved he wasn’t a viable option against Watford.
The Magpies stated via a official statement on their website ahead of their 2-0 defeat to Watford that young right-back Sterry was joining Crew Alexandra on loan until the end of the season.
This seemed like a smart decision as well as Rafa Benitez needs more capable options to cover first-choice right DeAndre Yedlin, the 23-year-old hadn’t managed to make an appearance in the Premier League.
Sterry had managed to feature for the Magpies’ senior team in cup games this season but clearly Manquillo was always ahead of him in the pecking order when it came to league games and Yedlin being unavailable.
While this is understandable as the 24-year-old has more experience, after witnessing his display against the Hornets then you have to question whether keeping Sterry and binning Manquillo would have been the better option.
The Spaniard, who earns £35,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac) at St James Park, had a horror show against Watford and just didn’t tick any boxes when it came to what you want from a full-back.
Manquillo didn’t look capable of being a threat going forward or a reliable presence at the back, with him instead looking so below the level required of him that you had to question whether he has it in.
The 24-year-old was sloppy on the ball against Watford and when you consider his previous outings for the club, the Magpies have to regret letting Sterry go and banking on Manquillo.
While Sterry is unproven in England’s top-flight when he has featured in games for the senior side, he has looked chomping at the bit and full of fight.
These might not be the most inspiring attributes but it’s more than Manquillo showed in his display against the Hornets.
Therefore unless the Magpies uncharacteristically act quickly in the days that remain of the January transfer window to sign a new right-back, if Yedlin gets injured especially, Manquillo’s outing proved that loaning out Sterry may already be a regrettable decision.