Chelsea have N’golo Kante, Liverpool have Fabinho and Manchester City have Rodri or Fernandinho. Even West Ham and Leicester possess Declan Rice and Wilfred Ndidi. The fact is, all top sides field a combative, defensive-minded midfielder.
Ever since Claudio Makelele reinvented the wheel at Chelsea almost twenty years ago, a holding midfielder has become an essential part of a Premier League club’s tool kit. The gritty role is essential in the modern game, allowing the more eye-catching players to play with freedom. An enforcer in the engine room protects a backline and can be the springboard for counterattacks.
Newcastle, however, have bucked the trend this season by playing without one. A season-ending injury to Isaac Hayden - the Magpies’ only defensive-minded midfielder - has forced Eddie Howe to change tack. Jonjo Shelvey has played deeper, operating in a quarterback role rather than as a traditional holding player.
READ MORE: Danny Murphy's glowing praise for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
January signing Bruno Guimaraes is a deep-lying playmaker whose true potential could be unlocked with the arrival of a ball-winner alongside him to do his dirty work. The Brazilian made four tackles and won 12 midfield duels against Wolves - showcasing his own ability to muck in - but his finesse and elegance make him more suited to controlling the tempo of the game.
Against Tottenham Hotspur, the Magpies’ lack of a defensive midfielder was evident as the Champions League hopefuls ripped through the backline with ease. Dan Burn and Fabian Schar were exposed as Spurs smashed five past Newcastle to record a comfortable win. Howe brought on Jamaal Lascelles and reverted to a back five to try and tighten the defence - an unnecessary move if there were a holding midfielder in the United ranks.
The last competitive Newcastle side in 2011/12 featured the late Cheick Tiote and a player of his mould would be the perfect fit. Several names have been linked, with Marseille’s out-of-contract wonderkid Boubacar Kamara and Leeds United talisman Kalvin Phillips currently churning in the rumour mill.
Buying a superstar striker, mercurial winger or powerhouse centre-back will rightfully get supporters excited about next season’s prospects. While a defensive midfielder may not evoke the same enthusiasm, signing one should be of equal importance.
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