In a recent report, The Daily Mirror has claimed that Newcastle United are monitoring the situation of Jack Hendry, who could be signed by Oostende for £2m from Celtic and then be sold at the end of the campaign. However, it is understood that the Magpies could face competition in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in pursuit of the Scottish centre-back (via The Daily Mirror).
Hendry’s Impressive Loan Spell At The Diaz Arena
Hendry has enjoyed a solid loan spell in Belgium as he has been responsible for putting in some commanding displays at the centre of Alexander Blessin’s defence this season. The 25-year-old has registered two goals and one assist in 22 matches for the Belgian outfit this term in the Jupiler Pro League.
The Glasgow-born sensation has done well to average 1.2 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 4.5 clearances per game in the Belgian top tier. He has even distributed the ball well out from the back after making 84.7% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Hendry has proven his worth as a decent defender in Belgium, but there are some concerns over whether he will be able to maintain his high standards in Premier League football if Newcastle manage to bring him to St. James’ Park during the summer transfer period.
What Does The Scottish Defensive Ace Bring To The Table?
Hendry is a moderately-paced centre-half who can read the danger quickly and make some essential clearances for his team. He has also been a decent tackler at Oostende this season and has passed the ball accurately when playing his way out from defence.
Standing at 1.92m, the three-time Scotland international can be a towering presence inside his penalty box. At 25, Hendry is about to enter the prime years of his playing career and still has plenty of room for improvement. However, he is quite inexperienced at the highest level and could struggle to cope with the high intensity of English football.
Is Hendry The Right Choice For Newcastle?
At the moment, Hendry won’t be a good option for the Magpies as Steve Bruce cannot afford to take any risks in the transfer market. The Celtic defender won’t add anything new to Newcastle’s defence and might struggle to earn regular game time under Bruce’s stewardship in the coming seasons. The Tyneside giants would be better off opting for a more reliable defender if they want to avoid getting themselves into relegation trouble once again in the upcoming campaign.
