Newcastle United got themselves promoted to the Premier League after their title winning 2016-17 Championship season. However, the Geordies haven’t started their new life in the English top division in a spectacular manner, having collected merely 3 points from their first 3 league outings.
Rafael Benitez significantly bolstered his arsenal during the summer transfer window but what is the call of the hour is that some of the players really need to prove their calibre and produce notable performances and here are three such players:
Dwight Gayle
One of the players who excelled last season during Newcastle United’s promotion was Dwight Gayle. Gayle smashed 22 goals in 31 games for the club and spearheaded the attack of the Magpies meticulously. He was consistent, willing and operated with some serious intent, but has been a bit sluggish this season.
Despite having 2 appearances to his name, the Englishman has failed to find the back of the net so far and he is doing no good to better his credentials. Besides, his record in the Premier League hasn’t been a stupendous one as he could bag merely 3 goals in 16 appearances for his former club Crystal Palace during the 2015-16 season and it is about time for him to hit the ground up and running.
Javier Manquillo
Signed from Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window after his loan spells with Liverpool, Marseille and Sunderland, Javier Manquillo is yet to hit the standards he is expected to. The 23-year-old right-back hasn’t been prolific whilst marauding forward and has been shaky at the back too.
In 3 top flight appearances this season, it was evident that Manquillo suffered from the lack of positional awareness and failed to read the game well. As a fullback, he has not been able to chalk out juicy crosses or surge forward meticulously and thus, he needs to up the ante after the international break.
Mohamed Diame
Mohamed Diame’s rampaging prowess from his slot behind the striker isn’t unfamiliar to the football fraternity. But what has hindered his career is his inconsistency. The Senegal international chisels moments of absolute magic at times and then goes missing in the other games.
When the Toon have a veteran player in their ranks, a lot is justifiably anticipated. Ensuring that they remain inside the rendezvous zone would be crucial and someone like Diame should set himself as an example week in and week out.
