The mags are flying at the minute and soon all eyes will be turned to our transfer activity as the season draws to a close and the window opens.
There’s a lot of talk about who we’re looking to target, who we’ll build the squad around and who’ll make their NUFC exit.
A player who’s flown under the radar this season due to injuries is Dummett. Howe has come out and said he’s keen for him to stay.
But is that really the best use of a precious space in the 25-man squad?
There were some omissions in our most recent 25-man squad that felt harsh, like Hayden. But then Howe has been vindicated with others – many felt it was unfair to keep Lewis out for Krafth, but the latter has been sensational in recent weeks.
Nobody is under the illusion Dummett will walk back into the side, but given the performance of our current roster of fit full-backs, he’s arguably our weakest back-up option. His legs are starting to go, limiting his options at left-back. While he’s half-decent at centre-back, that’s one of our best-performing areas right now and we’re still looking to improve it in the summer.
When Dummett has been available at times, he’s often missing out on our matchday squads. And while he’s a senior homegrown talent who will very likely lead by example behind the scenes, I just don’t see a place for him here anymore.
Perhaps that’s what a lot of the debate on whether he stays or goes boils down to: the sentimentality.
In the past 10 or so years, we’ve only ever had three or four local players in and around the squad at a time. We know now that with ambitious owners and financial backing, there’s a good chance there could be fewer in the future – even with investment in the academy. While Dummett has been a solid and passionate servant to the club in his time, sentimentality isn’t enough to justify a place in next season’s squad.
Plus, we’re not short of passionate personalities in the squad at the moment. The team might have been demotivated and disillusioned at the start of the season, but our existing captains Lascelles, Ritchie and Shelvey have all stepped up since the takeover. We’ve also hired some great leaders – Trippier undoubtedly the standout, but Dan Burn is that commanding, passionate Geordie at the back. Matty Targett is vocal and leads by example.
Dummett has had an up-and-down time at the club. I watched him in the reserves before he broke into the first team and was delighted to see him get into the first-team squad. But under Pardew, his form started to slide downhill and, at times, he could be a real liability. Even for the first full season under Rafa, he wasn’t at his best. But after another injury and a return at the Etihad, he looked a different player – the one we’d seen he could be earlier in his career.
Ultimately, he’s reached the stage in his career when he’s slowing down. His injury record is poor and unlikely to improve at this point, and the only chance he stands of getting into the team is for us to be cursed with multiple defensive injuries. While he wouldn’t be the worst back-up, he also wouldn’t be the best.
I loved Steven Taylor while he was here, and it took me a long time to admit when it was his time to go. On his day, he was unbeatable, but he started to make more mistakes and when he left, it was sad but it was the right time.
The same can be said for Dummett – with a big thank you, a pat on the back and maybe even a cheeky testimonial.
