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Newcastle’s Paul Dummett may have to get used to the bench

Tom Procter

Tue 5 November 2019 18:15, UK

Newcastle United may have conceded two more goals at the weekend, but their defence could be set for a real boost.

Florian Lejeune is set to return for Steve Bruce after a gruelling past six months recovering from a serious knee injury.

The Frenchman had only just come back from an ACL injury, before suffering the same type of injury to his other knee in April.

He recently featured for the club’s U23s against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, and has come through unscathed.

, he wrote: “Yesterday was the last time I played for the reserves before coming back with the group. Thank you to all my teammates, can’t wait to be back #readynow.

With Federico Fernandez back in favour, and Fabian Schar expected back from injury soon, things are looking much better for the Magpies at the back – but one man could really suffer as a result of the defensive options now available to Bruce.

TBR’s view – Bit-part role beckons for Dummett

One would imagine Lejeune will go straight into the starting XI once he’s fully up to speed, and certainly Schar has to play.

That leaves one more starting place at the back, with captain Jamaal Lascelles surely undroppable.

With Ciaran Clark having also looked good in recent weeks, left-sided centre-back Paul Dummett’s chances of featuring regularly for Newcastle are now looking very slim.

The popular Welshman – who earns £35,000-a-week () – has been named as a substitute for the last four Premier League games.

He came on for a three-minute cameo against West Ham at the weekend, and perhaps that’s something he’ll unfortunately have to get used to with everyone else available.

And with Jetro Willems looking impressive at left-back and Matt Ritchie to return soon, his starting prospects anywhere in the team really have taken a huge hit.