OPINION
Newcastle United must rescue midfielder Danny Drinkwater from Chelsea in the summer as he could excel in Rafa Benitez’s side.
The 29-year-old hasn’t played a competitive game in a year, he has only featured in the Community Shield this season, and it’s clear to see he is in desperate need of a change of scenery.
Magpies legend Micky Quinn shared how he was stunned that Drinkwater hadn’t featured in a competitive game for a year and revealed he rated him as he pointed out he was sensational during Leicester City’s Premier League winning season.
Though the pundit did quickly point out that he thought the central midfielder’s career had gone pear-shaped since.
“He is a Premier League winner, he was sensational with Leicester City in the team that won the Premier League, thoroughly deserved to win the Premier League as well, and it’s just gone pear shaped hasn’t it, I couldn’t believe it when you told me that he hadn’t played a competitive game in a year,” said Quinn on talkSPORT (17:35, Tuesday March 5th).
While Drinkwater isn’t the most appealing prospect to buy right now, he is still the same talented player who has proven himself in the Premier League after appearing 99 times in the division.
Benitez may have enough central midfielders to call upon currently but that may not be the case in the summer, as Jonjo Shelvey could be on his way to West Ham according to The Sun while fellow midfielder Mohamed Diame’s current contract expires at the end of the season, as reported by Sky Sports.
The 29-year-old is the ideal player to cover the loss of both of those players as not only is he a sublime passer of the ball, he would add a steely presence to the Magpies’ midfield due to his tackling ability.
Also Benitez would no doubt be willing to work with Drinkwater as TEAMTalk reported last summer that the Magpies had enquired about the midfielder’s services so the manager’s must have approved the idea.