Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez will hand Javier Manquillo a chance at left-back against Burnley on Monday in place of the injured Paul Dummett, according to The Sun.
The newspaper report that the 24-year-old Spaniard is set to fill in for crocked Wales international Dummett, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The rarely-seen Manquillo has made just three appearances in all competitions this season for the Magpies, with the former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool player failing to impress.
Other options in that position for Benitez include Ciaran Clark, Kenedy and Achraf Lazaar.
OPINION
Benitez’s choice at left-back have been a topic of wide speculation this week after it became clear that Dummett was set to miss out, with none of his options particularly standing out. Kenedy has filled in there for Dummett earlier in the season, and has played at left-back many times for parent club Chelsea, but it is abundantly clear that his best position is further forward. Lazaar is a natural left-back but has been out of Benitez’s plans ever since the club were promoted to the Premier League, and it is a miracle he is still a Newcastle player. There have been suggestions that he is set for a return to the first-team fold but that does not look likely in reality. Clark is a centre-back by trade but his left-footedness certainly makes him an option for Benitez out wide, although his effectiveness at left-back would be highly questionable considering his lack of pace and experience there. Manquillo is therefore the safest option, with the Spaniard having experience playing there already this season while also being a natural wing-back, and that is obviously likely to see him get the nod against the Clarets.
