Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez will consider keeping Mohamed Diame in a deeper lying midfield role after his display against Birmingham City last weekend.
The absence of Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey from the starting eleven meant that Diame played alongside Jack Colback in a central midfield position during the 0-0 draw, and Benitez told the Shields Gazette that he was impressed by what he saw:
“We knew it could be a difficult game because they have three players in the middle and we had to manage that. But I thought Mo gave us some fresh legs and won plenty of second challenges. He was fine, he was passing the ball and also regaining some balls that we lost.”
Diame arrived in England from Spanish football as a holding midfielder but as his career has progressed, he has begun to play further and further forward with both Benitez and Hull manager Steve Bruce opting to play the Senegalese player in a number 10 role due to his goal threat.
With Hayden only just returning to full fitness, Benitez may consider retaining Diame in the heart of midfield as they seek to secure promotion to the Premier League in the last eight games of the Championshi season.
