In the summer Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew will face a battle to keep hold of some of his key players. Tim Krul and captain Fabricio Coloccini have already signed new deals, but interest is likely to be shown in Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba from fellow Premier League clubs. However, Newcastle do appear to have a quartet of players who have no future at the club.
It seems that Alan Smith, Peter Lovenkrands, Danny Guthrie and Dan Gosling’s time at Newcastle will be coming to an end sooner rather than later. Smith and Lovenkrands are both likely to have played their last game in a black and white shirt, with Smith on loan at League One side MK Dons and Lovenkrands all but ruled out for the season through injury. Both will see their contract end in the summer and the Newcastle hierarchy are unlikely to offer either a new deal given that they are 31 and 32-years-old respectively.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-video’ align=’right’]
Another player whose contract comes to an end at the end of the season is Danny Guthrie. Guthrie is much more involved in the first-team picture at Newcastle, but a place in the strongest starting eleven continues to be illusive for the 24-year-old. With Aston Villa reported to be interested in the former Liverpool midfielder, Guthrie may decide it’s time to move on after four years in the north-east and look to further his career elsewhere.
Dan Gosling’s contract may not be coming to an end, but first team opportunities are just as hard to come by for the 22-year-old. Given his age, you would think that time would be on Gosling’s side but you can’t help but feel that he hasn’t quite recovered from the serious injury he suffered while at his previous club Everton. Gosling’s future at Newcastle may well depend on whether Tiote, Cabaye and Guthrie all stay at the club or not.
Of the Newcastle quartet mentioned above, the older players, Alan Smith and Peter Lovenkrands, are both likely to move to pastures new in the summer. While I would like Danny Guthrie to stay I don’t think he warrants a place in the first team and the same has to be said about Dan Gosling, too. If the latter pair are happy to be squad players then I’d keep them on Newcastle’s books, but if not then this quartet could be on their way out at the end of the season.
NothingButNewcastle.com is looking for writers. If you love the Toon get in touch at nothingbutnewcastle@snack-media.com
Crying shame, because Guthrie is a decent player and could only do the side good.
guthrie and gosling should be given another chance at nufc
If Newcastle are to improve then players of their calibre need to be shown the door,there is no room for sentiment. If they had been good enough then it would have been evident by now.
Couldn’t agree more