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Dummett raves about Clark

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Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett heaped praise on teammate Ciaran Clark after admitting that he had been “dropped” by Steve Bruce.

The Magpies enforcer hasn’t started any of the club’s last four league games, after previously playing every minute of Newcastle’s first seven league games of the season.

Dummett admitted that Bruce had opted to drop him for recent games, rather than his absence being down to any injury concern, and opted to praise Clark who has effectively taken his place in the starting eleven.

“It’s never nice to not be playing,” the defender told the Chronicle.

“The manager dropped me for whatever reason after the defeat against Leicester. I’ve had to work hard to get back in the team.

“Ciaran has played really well since he’s come in. Credit to him, he was ready when called upon.”

OPINION

Dummett was one of the first names on the teamsheet previously, but currently, he is looking like he has to settle for three-minute cameos like the one he got in the 3-2 win over West Ham. It must be quite unnerving for the 28-year-old to find himself stuck on the bench as after playing every minute of the first seven league games, it does feel harsh for his playing time to suddenly dry up so fast, after all, he didn’t do anything overly wrong. Newcastle’s No.3 averaged 1.9 tackles as well as 1.4 interceptions on average per match in the Premier League this season, as per WhoScored, and these stats suggest he was pulling his weight at the back for Bruce’s side. Dummett also has averaged 4.4 clearances this season, so you can’t question that he has done well. However, given that the Magpies have won two of their last four games, then Dummett having a reduced role in the first-team squad does seem to be working in terms of results. So with that in mind, the 28-year-old faces an uphill battle getting his first-team spot back.

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