Lascelles playing with injury raises real issues at Magpies
CENTRE-BACK AREA HAS TO BE ON AGENDA WHEN RAFA HOLDS TALKS WITH ASHLEY
NEWCASTLE United fans have rightly commended Jamaal Lascelles after the Magpies’ captain played through the pain barrier for four months. Since the early weeks of 2017, the 23-year-old has been playing with a double-hernia problem, something which will almost certainly have proved restrictive on the pitch. There have been a few questionable displays from the skipper during that time but on the whole the centre-back has performed well in captaining Newcastle to promotion – and, potentially, the second-tier title. The fact Lascelles has had to play on for so long, while not 100% fit, highlights a significant issue which Rafa Benitez will surely raise during his impending face-to-face meeting with Mike Ashley. We know Newcastle need significant investment to be made in their squad this summer – Benitez is believed to want around eight players during the off-season – and one position the Spaniard will demand is strengthened as a priority is centreback.
When fully fit, Ciaran Clark is probably the first name on Benitez’s teamsheet at the moment.
You need only look at the six-week period he was sidelined for, and the Magpies’ struggles on the road during that time, to realise just how important Clark has been since he joined United amid raised eyebrows last summer.
Alongside Clark, Lascelles also looks a more confident and assured presence at the heart of Newcastle’s defence.
It may sound obvious but Lascelles benefits from having a calm defender alongside him at the heart of United’s back four.
Clark evidently fills the ex-Nottingham Forest man with confidence and brings the very best out of him.
During Newcastle’s 10-game winning run, it is no coincidence the Lascelles-Clark axis was present in the United side.
Yet remove that duo and suddenly the options at centre-half appear thin.
Or, at the very least, the options at centre-half Benitez trusts to do a job in the Premier League appear thin. Between them, Chancel Mbemba (11 starts) and Grant Hanley (five) have been named in just 16 starting XIs in the league so far this term.
Benitez has long-standing doubts about whether he can trust Mbemba to carry out a specific gameplan – though the Democratic Republic of Congo defender has featured in four of the past five games – while Hanley has underwhelmed.
Steady at this level, Hanley’s poor display on the opening day at Craven Cottage saw him fall down the pecking order and he has only made 10 appearances.
It appears likely Hanley will depart
for another Championship side this summer while 22-year-old Mbemba is also still trying to convince Benitez he can fulfil his undoubted potential back in the top flight.
Therefore it is little wonder Newcastle are being linked with what seems to be every single centre-back in Europe.
Werder Bremen’s Luca Caldirola – who Benitez briefly managed at Inter Milan – and Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic are the latest ‘targets’ being touted.
Newcastle also have a long-standing interest in Hull City’s Harry Maguire and have been linked with Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross.
Without doubt, Benitez is seeking defenders this summer.
He will need at least one, if not two, centre-backs – and that is even if one or both of Hanley or Mbemba stays.
Benitez wants the ability to be more flexible with his tactics.
The 4-2-3-1 formation United have utilised for the vast majority of the campaign will remain the default option but Benitez desires greater versatility as far as systems are concerned.
Three at the back remains an option, Paul Dummett possibly even being considered as a third centrehalf in such a set-up.
Isaac Hayden can also operate in defence.
DeAndre Yedlin would be ideal as a wing-back while it was hoped Achraf Lazaar would provide greater flexibility for such a role down the left.
However, he is yet to convince – so additional widemen will also be sought.
Clearly Newcastle need to strengthen all over the pitch but Benitez knows the Magpies’ survival chances depend upon having a strong defensive platform from which to build.
Lascelles and Clark will be important players next term but at least one front-line central-defensive recruit is needed this summer.
United cannot afford to field a less-than-fully-fit centre-back for any length of time in the Premier League, that is for certain.