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With their win at Leicester last Friday meaning next season’s Premier League status is all but secured, Newcastle United fans can put their feet up with a bottle of the region’s coldest, finest, coveted brown ale.
…Not quite.
Whilst this may be the case should Newcastle win on Saturday and Cardiff lose on Sunday – confirming the Magpies’ mathematical survival – there is still work to be done for Rafa Benitez and his side if they’re to avoid a similar relegation scrap next term.
During what’s been a typically topsy-turvy campaign on Tyneside, there has been some standout performers who have formed a formidable spine to Newcastle’s team, so keeping hold of these players will be key to the Toon’s progression in subsequent seasons.
Football FanCast take a look at three players Newcastle United need to build their team around…
Martin Dubravka
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been in scintillating form during the 18/19 season, keeping 10 clean sheets and conceding just 43 goals – making Newcastle the sixth best defence in the league just behind Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool.
Newcastle signed the 30-year old goalkeeper initially on loan from Sparta Prague in January 2018, which was then made permanent in May – and what a scoop that has proven to be.
The Slovakian shot stopper has been rewarded for his standout performances, being recognised as the Player of the Year 2018 by the North East Football Writers’ Association.
Fabian Schar
After signing the Swiss international from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer for just £3m, not many could have predicted the immeasurable impact Fabian Schar would have had upon Newcastle this season.
The stats highlight this, with a tackle completion of 67%, 48 interceptions, 126 duels won and a total of 0 costly errors, cementing his place within Newcastle’s backline. Schar has also contributed in attack, boasting 109 accurate long balls, 13 crosses and 3 goals, one of which earned him February’s goal of the month – a stunning strike during Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Burnley at St James’ Park.
His performance at Leicester on Friday summed up exactly what Newcastle fans have become so accustomed to with the Swiss defender this season, namely hard-hitting challenges and pin-point passes – justifying his importance to a Newcastle side built on robustness.
Salomon Rondon
Last but not least, forward Salomon Rondon has excelled in his upfront, if not isolated at times, position for United. After signing the Venezuelan striker on loan from West Brom last August, Newcastle have reaped the rewards with Rondon bagging ten goals and five assists during his eight months at the club.
His physical presence and composed touch are vital for Newcastle as it provides a trusty outlet when they’re under the cosh, able to hold the ball up and bring the pacier players into play.
However, the future of their number 9 remains up in the air and something that needs to be secured after his emergence as the spearhead of Benitez’s side.
Verdict
As we all know, the Premier League is an unforgiving and ruthless battlefield, with those not up to the challenge being flung, devoid of mercy, into the Championship. Such has been the case for Huddersfield Town and Fulham this season, with both returning to the second tier.
Whilst the Magpies haven’t endured a relegation since 2016 and have become a solid Premier League outfit under the sterling stewardship Benitez, past seasons have seen the Magpies sell their top players such as prolific forward Demba Ba and homegrown protege Andy Carroll, replacing them with bargain basement junk.
This has caused mass unrest amongst the Toon faithful, as arguably, it’s this exact strategy that holds the club back from those dizzy heights of the top six – where many believe they belong.
Dubravka, Schar and Rondon have been pivotal to Newcastle’s campaign, and if the North East club are to begin asserting themselves in forthcoming seasons, they need to prioritise building upon the valuable qualities of the trio instead of cashing in.
