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Fernandez fell flat on his face v Bournemouth

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Image for Fernandez fell flat on his face v Bournemouth

OPINION

The centre of defence has arguably become the most fiercely competitive area of the pitch for Newcastle United, and so it’s vitally important that when a centre half gets a chance he takes it.

That’s exactly what didn’t happen for Federico Fernandez in the team’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday. Instead, the Argentine international fell flat on his face in one of his worst performances for the club.

He gave away the penalty that gave the hosts a route back into the game after Salomon Rondon had put the Magpies ahead on the stroke of half time at the Vitality Stadium. If ever there was a way to ensure a swift return to the substitutes bench that was it.

Perhaps the 30-year-old wasn’t quite match-ready having spent a few months out of the team due to injury and loss of form, but injured captain Jamaal Lascelles certainly won’t be losing any sleep over his starting spot.

As mentioned, manager Rafael Benitez has a multitude of options at the heart of the defence. Besides the aforementioned Fernandez and Lascelles, there’s Florian Lejeune, Fabian Schar, Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark who can play at centre back when fully fit and available.

That doesn’t leave much room for underperforming players, does it? Fernandez had a big chance on Saturday in the absence of Lascelles and Schar but he simply didn’t take it.

It seems all but inevitable that if Lascelles is fully fit he will retake his starting spot ahead of the former Swansea City man next time out, with Dummett continuing to deputise for the suspended Schar having produced a performance the complete opposite of Fernandez’s against the Cherries.

Ultimately the player has to take responsibility for his sub-par display. Blame it on rustiness, blame it on the quality of the opposition, blame it on whatever you like, it won’t change the fact that Fernandez is seemingly destined for another long spell on the bench after his Saturday disaster.

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