OPINION
Rafa Benitez must axe Matt Ritchie if he wants to name his best possible starting line-up for Newcastle United’s meeting with Crystal Palace at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Ritchie, 29, has found his spot in the side untouchable this season, appearing 33 times across all competitions for the Magpies.
However the Scotland international has been in dire form lately and was particularly woeful in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Monday, and that is why Benitez needs to drop him and hand a first start to outcast Antonio Barreca.
Since joining the Tyneside club on loan from Monaco in January, Barreca has made just one four-minute appearance off the bench against Tottenham on February 2, but has not been in any matchday squad since.
It is about time that the rarely-seen Italian is handed a second chance to impress as the left-sided wing-back, as Ritchie has not been great there lately.
Martin Dubravka must start in goals behind a back-three of Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune.
Schar might be back to full fitness after missing the defeat at Arsenal, and the Switzerland international should replace Paul Dummett in Benitez’s starting line-up if he is available.
DeAndre Yedlin should keep his place as the right-sided wing-back, while Barreca should come in on the left.
Jonjo Shelvey has not started a league fixture for Newcastle since November 3, but he should definitely come in to replace Mohamed Diame in the midfield and partner Isaac Hayden.
Newcastle’s attack should be straightforward for Benitez as there is no better option to play Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez behind centre-forward Salomon Rondon.
Crystal Palace will be there for the taking if Benitez plays this strong team against them at St James’ Park this weekend.
