Former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee believes that manager Rafa Benitez has signed the right type of players who will perform well at Championship level.
Lee thinks that the additions of four players in particular, who have experience playing in England’s second tier, could prove to be vital as the Magpies look to gain promotion during a long, tough season where a large, experienced squad is required. He wrote in his column for the Evening Chronicle:
“[Daryl] Murphy, Grant Hanley, Isaac Hayden and [Mo] Diame know and understand the Championship. They know how to thrive at this level. This is completely different to the Premier League and you need players who know exactly what the Championship is about.”
“It’s a long, long season. There are games almost twice a week all the way through, you need a big squad like Newcastle have, and they have players who have been through it before. These new players aren’t coming in and learning the ropes, they’re expected to perform from the off. And that’s exactly what a successful team needs.”
While both Mohamed Diame and Isaac Hayden have established themselves as first team starters in Rafa Benitez’s midfield, Grant Hanley has so far struggled to break in to the starting eleven since his £5.5m move from Blackburn Rovers with the Magpies boss preferring club captain Jamaal Lascelles and Chancel Mbemba at centre back.
Daryl Murphy meanwhile will be hoping to make his debut against Derby County tomorrow after moving from Ipswich Town. The Irish international scored his first goal for his country against Serbia in a 2-2 draw during the international break.
