OPINION
If there is one position where Rafael Benitez feels confident in when it comes to quality in depth at Newcastle United, it would have to be his centre backs.
Not for many years have the Toon Army been so confident in the men lining up at the heart of the defence but this season has seen both those starting and those waiting on the fringes impress as injury and suspension forces the manager to rotate among his numerous options.
No one has looked like being a guaranteed starter and you can be sure that Benitez will be delighted to have that sort of competition at his disposal.
In the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last time out it was Florian Lejeune, perhaps the man at the top of the pecking order right now, Federico Fernandez and Paul Dummett who were given the nod, Fabian Schar suspended and Jamaal Lascelles injured.
However, with the club captain back in contention, as revealed by Benitez on the club’s official website, and Schar in contention for the clash against Crystal Palace – the Swiss international suspended against Arsenal on Monday night – it seems as though three will be fighting for one starting place in the near future.
Schar is another who can be confident of his place in the line up when fit, with no one else offering the same ball playing abilities among the defenders in the squad, leaving Lascelles, Fernandez and Dummett to battle it out against Arsenal.
Dummett might be a natural left back but has shown his worth in the middle, not least with an acrobatic goal line clearance against Bournemouth, while the early season form of Fernandez has deserted him somewhat, the summer arrival struggling to impress the fans at St James’ Park.
It promises to be a fascinating clash against Arsenal for a number of reasons – the fight for supremacy in the Newcastle defence perhaps the most crucial fight among the Magpies’ squad right now.
