Jamaal Lascelles
It pains us to say this, but Jamaal Lascelles should be dropped. The 23-year-old is a hugely popular figure on Tyneside and one who looks like he can be exactly the kind of captain the club so desperately craved for so long.
However, he’s been carried by Ciaran Clark in recent weeks, often too hesitant on the ball and too slow to tackle when squared up one on one. Though Chancel Mbemba doesn’t seem to have Benitez’s complete trust, the Congolese needs to be turned to sooner rather than later.