DeAndre hands United defensive dilemma
YEDLIN LIKELY TO MISS GAME AT CARDIFF – SO WHO WILL STAND IN?
FEDERICO Fernandez has revealed Ki Sung-yueng’s glowing reference helped convince him to join Newcastle United.
Argentina international defender Fernandez completed a £6million deadline-day move from Swansea City as Rafa Benitez sought injury cover following Florian Lejeune’s serious knee injury.
Fernandez could make his Newcastle debut back in South Wales, the 29-year-old expected to be included in the United squad for Saturday’s trip to newly-promoted Cardiff City.
However, Fernandez was not the only Swansea player to trade the Liberty Stadium for St James’ Park this summer, midfielder Ki having made the move on a free transfer last month.
In the hours before he sealed his transfer to Tyneside, centre-back Fernandez spoke with Ki about the club - and the South Korea captain only had positive things to say about Newcastle.
Fernandez, who also rejoins former Swansea team-mate Jonjo Shelvey at Newcastle, said of his move to United: “I found out two weeks ago that Newcastle were interested.
“However, it was really in the last two days of the window it became something more intense.
“I spoke with Ki a lot before I came. He only had good things to say about the club, the city and everyone at Newcastle.
“When I was on my way to Tyneside on deadline day, he sent me a message telling me he was glad I was joining him.
“Everything was fine, we have a very good relationship.”
After being relegated with Swansea last season, Fernandez was keen to continue playing Premier League football.
However, he believes Newcastle’s primary objective this term must be to secure their top-flight status - and, then, once the Magpies are safe, they can aim to finish as high as possible and attempt to replicate their top-half finish from last term.
Newcastle lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in their opening game of the season and, following their trip to Cardiff, take on Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in the coming weeks.
However, rather than be daunted by that fixture list, Fernandez is excited to challenge himself against the Premier League’s best sides.
He added: “Of course our first objective has to be just to stay up.
“Then, depending on how we start, we can think about finishing as high in the table as possible.” Newcastle United Writer NEWCASTLE United manager Rafa Benitez knew the depth of the Magpies’ squad would be tested once injuries struck.
The Spaniard was pleased with the seven additions United made during the summer window but there are certain areas of his squad which still lacks options.
Nowhere is that more obvious than at full-back.
Following Massadio Haidara and Jesus Gamez’s summer exits, Newcastle have just three senior players who are out-and-out full-backs in Paul Dummett, Javier Manquillo and DeAndre Yedlin.
On Saturday, first-choice rightback Yedlin was forced off during added time of Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham with a knee injury.
The USA international is still being assessed by United but there are fears he could face a lengthy absence - and he is a serious doubt for this weekend’s trip to Cardiff City.
However, who could Benitez play in Yedlin’s likely absence?
Which players could provide makeshift cover at full-back?
How could Benitez tinker with the system to accommodate Yedlin potentially being unavailable?
Here are five ways the Magpies could fill the void left by the American if he does not return to fitness in time for the game in Wales. FORMER Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko has avoided a three-match ban for an apparent stamp on Magpies’ winger Kenedy.
French international Sissoko returned to St James’ Park as part of the Tottenham side which triumphed 2-1 on the first weekend of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign.
Just before half-time, Sissoko fouled Kenedy, bringing the winger Yedlin would be his current understudy Manquillo.
Named on the bench at the weekend - and someone who deputised on occasion for Yedlin last term Manquillo can cover both defensive flanks but he is right-footed and is therefore best suited to playing right-back.
Defensively he has struggled at times in the Premier League but, with depth at full-back thin on the ground, Benitez is likely to turn towards the Spaniard more often than not during Yedlin’s lay-off. to the ground, before appearing to stand on the back of the Brazilian’s leg.
However, the Frenchman will not receive retrospective action from the Football Association for the incident - due to the fact it was spotted by match officials.
Referee Martin Atkinson opted against punishing Sissoko, who forced an excellent second-half save from Martin Dubravka, at the time.
Given the fact Benitez only has three senior out-and-out full-backs to call upon, he will need to be creative in the coming weeks if Yedlin’s injury does turn out to be serious.
Newcastle not only have 37 Premier League games left to play this season they will also begin their EFL Cup campaign at the second-round stage towards the end of this month, meaning Benitez may want to rest some of his first-team squad.
Seemingly anticipating a potential defensive injury crisis early in preseason, Benitez did field under-23 players as makeshift full-backs.
Victor Fernandez and Cal Roberts
Such news will likely infuriate Newcastle fans, who have seen their side go more than four years without an opposition player being dismissed against them in the top flight.
Not since Bradley Johnson was given his marching orders in the 82nd minute on January 28, 2014 alongside Newcastle’s Loic Remyafter an off-the-ball incident during United’s stalemate with Norwich City at Carrow Road has an opponent - both of who are wingers by trade played in defence during pre-season, while right-back Jamie Sterry could yet earn a chance to force his way back into the first-team set up.
All three featured for the second string during the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion’s reserves on Monday but they could find themselves elevated into the first-team squad soon enough.
Two high-profile absentees from the United matchday squad for the defeat to Spurs, Hayden and Aarons seen red against the Magpies in any competitive Premier League fixture.
Sissoko received a frosty reception on Tyneside, being booed every time he touched the ball.
Whenever he gave away possession, United fans would ironically cheer the Frenchman, whose interviews in a bid to force through a £30million move following relegation during the summer of 2016 have not been forgotten.