Can Routledge play a part in the final two games?

Wayne Routledge is back on Tyneside now having played his part in the QPR Championship-winning celebrations last weekend.

Routledge, rather inexplicably, was allowed out on loan in January despite the blatant lack of depth within the Newcastle United squad. The move was even more confusing when you consider that no replacement was brought in for him which meant that we were actually a player lighter in terms of numbers as a result of his departure.

There is no doubting Routledge's ability....... in the Championship. We saw last season how good he can be, and we've been reminded of that with his performances for QPR as he helped them achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League. The lad oozes class in that division and has all the attributes to be a decent Premier League player.

With pace to burn, a good cross and an eye for a goal you would think that perhaps Routledge could have transformed some of his attributes into the Premier League. However this wasn't the case. Why is the lad too good for the Championship yet not good enough for the Premier League? The attributes, like I said, are there, so perhaps it's more of a mental issue as far as he is concerned?

Sometimes though a change is as good as a rest, and a mid-season switch to QPR could have helped Routledge gain some confidence. Maybe, just maybe, he can use these two final games as a last throw of the dice regarding his Newcastle United future?

With Cheik Tiote facing the possibility of being omitted for the final two games of the season, and with rumour rife suggesting that Kevin Nolan has undergone surgery on his foot (as yet this is unconfirmed) it could be that Routledge has reappeared at just the right time as Newcastle, yet again, start to run low on midfield options.

Much depends on what Routledge wants. If he wants a move back to QPR then it's pointless playing him. His mind, which I am convinced is his problem, won't be in the right place and we'll see the same Routledge that has seen him get chances at Aston Villa, Tottenham, Portsmouth and Fulham before being shoved back down the league pyramid.

However, if he wants to, and I mean really wants to, make a go of it at Newcastle and take a last chance to prove a point then this could be his opportunity to show us that he can offer something at Premier League level.

What do you think?