Newcastle United are once again in a crisis following the departure of manager Rafa Benitez, as well as the sale of their best player in recent years, Ayoze Perez, who was sold to Leicester City. The Magpies are the only club in the Premier League yet to sign anybody, while the talks regarding the purchase of the club have also died down.
The Premier League side are struggling on and off the pitch, as fans of the club have voiced their displeasure loudly.
Ahead of the Premier League season, Newcastle will play for the Premier League Asia Trophy in China against Wolves, before a return to the UK to face Scottish club Hibernian, and then French side St. Etienne.
With Newcastle not having purchased anyone yet, this gives the fringe players or those overlooked by manager Rafa Benitez last season to get a chance to prove themselves. Let’s take a look at 3 Newcastle United players who can use the pre-season as a springboard.
Dwight Gayle
Dwight Gayle had a very good season out on loan at Championship side West Bromwich Albion, scoring 24 goals and providing 2 assists in the Championship. With the inexperienced Yoshinori Muto the only other first-team striker available and Newcastle short of strikers after Salomon Rondon returned to West Brom, Gayle may have the task of leading the line for the Magpies in pre-season.
The former Crystal Palace striker was linked with a move to Fulham recently, but Newcastle may have to keep him as they do not have many strikers in the team. This is the perfect opportunity for Gayle to continue his scoring run, this time in the Premier League.
Jack Colback
Jack Colback was another player overlooked by manager Rafa Benitez last year and was sent on loan to Nottingham Forest in the Championship. Colback is another player who could get a chance to play in midfield as Isaac Hayden is interested in a move away while Sean Longstaff has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Colback averaged 3.2 tackles a game last season while completing 87.3% of all his passes at Nottingham Forest. The Englishman should grab this opportunity with both hands and get back into the first-team with some solid performances in pre-season.
Jonjo Shelvey
Another player who had the talent but did not invest it in the right way, former Liverpool and Charlton midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, played just 17 games last year, scoring once and assisting once. The midfielder is a good passer of the ball, and also has the vision to release attacking players with clever through balls, but he will have to improve on his passing percentage next season as he completed an average of 71% of all his passes.
A tenacious player whose discipline or the lack of it, could put his side in trouble, the English midfielder – like Colback – could get a chance to impress in pre-season under a new management.
