OPINION
Newcastle United need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League or they could soon find themselves in a precarious position sooner rather than later.
Few people would have viewed them has a contender for the drop this season, especially as boss Rafa Benitez steered them towards a tenth placed finish upon their return to the top-flight.
This was a momentous achievement for the club, but their start to the new campaign does not bode well in preserving their status as a Premier League club.
One way that they can ensure league safety is by immediately culling one of their fringe players from the squad.
That player is right-back Javier Manquillo, who has made one appearance for the Magpies so far this season after first-choice DeAndre Yedlin sustained a short-term injury.
It is safe to say that he proved why he is not Benitez’ first choice on a regular basis, as he was definitely not at the required standard to remain at a mid-table team.
He has previous experience with the likes of Liverpool and Sunderland, but he has arguably been questioned all the way through his Premier League career for his inconsistent form.
The rarely-used enforcer has shown little improvement in this current 2018/19 campaign, and this is exactly why Benitez does not need him amongst the ranks for one moment longer.
The 24-year-old is an accident waiting to happen, particularly as he is rather sloppy in possession – and this can often be highlighted as a weak point by the opposition.
Being rather lacklustre with the ball in his own half is a dangerous attribute to have, and if he was given the opportunity to cover in the case of an injury, then he would seriously be hampering United’s chances of achieving a positive result.
Benitez must not take that risk, and he must immediately cull the Spaniard from the squad and look elsewhere for cover.
