The Daily Mail has recently stated that Newcastle United are on the verge of signing Jeff Hendrick on a free transfer this summer. It is believed that the ex-Burnley midfielder had his medical with the Magpies on Saturday and could be announced as a Newcastle player soon (via The Daily Mail).
Hendrick’s Uneventful Season At Lancashire
The former Derby County talent experienced a solid yet uneventful campaign at the Turf Moor last season and did well to produce a few eye-catching displays as a box-to-box midfielder in Sean Dyche’s attack. He participated in 27 matches for the Clarets in the previous campaign, finding the back of the net on three occasions and earning two assists across all competitions.
The 28-year-old has been an important two-way player for Burnley over the past 12 months based on his average of 0.8 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.9 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he needs to be more careful when distributing the ball as he has completed only 75.6% of his attempted passes in the top tier of England (stats via whoscored).
Hendrick needs to get more game time under his belt in the coming years so that he can stay relevant at the highest level. Thus, joining the Magpies seems like a decent career opportunity for him as he will get a fair shot to prove his worth under the tutelage of Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce.
What Will The Irish Midfielder Bring To St. James’ Park?
Hendrick has the energy and desire to cover a lot of ground in midfield but can sometimes lack quality with his contributions in the attacking third. The 54-time Republic of Ireland international can do a little bit of everything at the centre of the park and has proven his worth as a valuable squad player in the Premier League. However, he won’t add too many goals and assists to Bruce’s squad at St. James’ Park next season.
Recruiting Hendrick might turn out to be a wise move for the Tyneside giants as he will bolster their squad depth ahead of the new season. Furthermore, the Irish midfield enforcer’s strong work ethic and hunger to succeed could help him compete with the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Sean Longstaff, Matty Longstaff and Isaac Hayden for a regular midfield berth in Bruce’s first XI.
At 28, Hendrick won’t show too much growth in the coming seasons as he has already hit his peak. However, if Bruce is looking for a multi-purpose midfielder who can impact the game at both ends of the pitch, then the ex-Burnley midfielder could be the ideal man to fill in such a role at Tyneside this summer. With all things considered, it seems like Newcastle would do well to acquire the Republic of Ireland international’s services but whether it is enough to help them secure a top-half finish in the Premier League next season, remains to be seen.
