MAGPIES LOOKING STRONG ON BOTH FLANKS
KENEDY AND DUMMETT LINKIING UP WELL
“IT has been great,” DeAndre Yedlin said when asked about his partnership with Matt Ritchie towards the end of last season.
The American said: “Matt is a great guy to play with because he is so vocal, not just with me but with the whole team.
“If the crowd was not so loud and you were the only one in the stadium he would be the one you would hear yelling all the time.
“He is a very important player for our team - not just for his quality on the ball and his work rate but for his leadership and the way he forces the best out of you.”
It was a positive many overlooked as Newcastle United stormed the league to finish 10th in the Premier League.
Many focused on the management skills of Rafa Benitez, the form of Ayoze Perez or the calming influence of Martin Dubravka.
The relationship down United’s right flank, which had flourished since the turn of the year, went under the radar for many. As United fell 2-1 to Tottenham in the opening game of the 2018-19 Premier League season, there were many positives despite the result. Ritchie was one of those - a constant thorn in the side of Spurs. Another was Jonjo Shelvey and another the appearance of Salomon Rondon, who looked hungry and ready to show his worth.
While many were praising Brazilian Kenedy for his attacking display - he had the most dribbles in the Premier League (six) on Saturday - it was perhaps his defensive work which went unnoticed.
Last season Kenedy stood out for many because of his ability to take the ball, run at defences and spark his side into life. Yet the more defensive-natured supporter may have clocked his ability to track back, get a tackle in or cover his full-back.
On Saturday we saw glimpses of that. Urged on by Benitez, who was constantly talking to Kenedy, the young on-loan midfielder was responsive to the instructions and willing to take on his role.
There were glimpses of what is to come in terms of a partnership between Dummett and Kenedy Andrew Musgrove
The second goal came from a cross from the side both he and Dummett occupied but then it was only the first game of the season and things like this take time to perfect.
There were glimpses of what is to come both attacking and defensively in terms of a partnership between Dummett and Kenedy.
Neither may be as vocal at Ritchie or Yedlin but like their counterparts on the right there is talking and hand gestures to usher one another to place.
Dummett does not often venture forward, he is a total different full-back in respect to Yedlin.
Last season he made 599 passes to Yedlin’s 1,000.
While the American made 100 more forward passes (414 to 314) than Dummett and delivered more than three times as many crosses (72 to 23) when Dummett does venture forward, as he did against Spurs, he was covered by Kenedy.
It may take a few weeks or perhaps months to get right to match the relationship between Yedlin and Ritchie but when it comes to Kenedy and Dummett Benitez has himself a project with huge potential.