If latest reports are to be believed, Andros Townsend is likely to make a shock return to Tyneside, around 6 months after leaving them for the Premier League comfort of Crystal Palace. If the move goes through, it will become a full circle for the English winger.
He was a part of Rafa Benitez’s last-ditch attempt to stay in the top-flight. It was Steve McClaren who signed the winger in January of last year in hope that Newcastle United’s star-studded team would get a boost with his injection of flair and pace. While Townsend did play well, it was not enough to save the Magpies from relegation. He subsequently moved to join Alan Pardew’s project at Crystal Place in a part of a mass exodus from the St. James’ Park.
But he has failed to properly settle down at the Selhurst Park. Like in Tottenham Hotspur, his inconsistent nature has been a real hindrance when it has come to his worth to the team and with Palace struggling miserably, he was a part of the group which was held accountable for the dismal displays. While there were murmurs regarding the players during that period itself, the sacking of Pardew and the subsequent hiring of Sam Allardyce has apparently resulted in the player falling drastically down the pecking order.
He has been linked to Newcastle United for a while now and with the window scheduled to close in a few of hours, it is likely that the deal will be pushed through by Rafa Benitez who clearly rates him.
Newcastle have been good in the Championship in their very first season there and the level of business and the club affairs hasn’t been any less than a Premier League club. They have gone about buying quality players and have mainly focused on forming a capable British core who would be suited to the graft of the Championship and would subsequently adjust to the Premier League in due course. And the allure of a coach of Rafa Benitez’s calibre has been the icing on the cake for some of the new players.
Townsend, along with a lot of people, are betting on Newcastle United making an immediate return to the top-flight with the club in the 2nd place right now which would guarantee a promotion if they could maintain that spot throughout.
But a couple of hiccups along the way has proved that it will not be an absolute cakewalk and hence the urgency behind Benitez’s actions in going for proven talents as they look to maintain the momentum and ensure their promotion at the very first attempt.
