OPINION
Rafa Benitez must bring Newcastle defender Achraf Lazaar in from the cold as Ciaran Clark’s horror show against Nottingham Forest proved that he is likely going to be needed.
The Magpies manager currently appears unwilling to consider utilising the 26-year-old left-back anytime soon as he made some blunt remarks about the player’s current status.
“If they are not in the squad they cannot train with us. They will stay over there [at the Academy],” Benitez said on the subject of Lazaar and Rolando Aarons, as quoted by the Chronicle.
“If they are over there, it’s because we told them we need to find a solution.”
Yet Lazaar has been named in the Magpies 25-man Premier League squad, as stated by the Chronicle, which shows not only the lack of cover for first-choice option Paul Dummet at left-back but that he clearly has a chance of featuring despite Benitez’s comments.
The 26-year-old may have previously let himself and the Magpies down in his outings for the club but it’s better that the defender is training with the first-team in case injury strikes.
Lazaar is realistically one or two injuries away from being Benitez’s best option at left-back whether the manager likes it or not.
The Magpies’ woes at left-back were highlighted during the 3-1 EFL cup defeat to Nottingham Forest last week with Clark being utilised on the left-flank of defense.
The 6ft 1in tall defender (Source: Transfermarkt) had a nightmare showing against the Championship outfit as not only was he at all odds at ends defensively, it was apparent that he was far from being considered a great crosser of the ball.
While Lazaar may not have covered himself in glory, given that he is naturally a left-back unlike Clark, than he will definitely be able to deliver a somewhat more competent performance than the 28-year-old if necessary.
Therefore Benitez must bring Lazaar in from the cold despite his latest remarks to ensure that Clark doesn’t have another nightmare outing this season.
