Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has said that left-back Paul Dummett is incredibly close to coming back into his first-team thoughts following the injury he sustained that has kept him out of action since the November international break and Wales’ tie against Denmark.
After representing his country in their Nations League defeat, the 27-year-old hasn’t pulled our shirt on since but speaking ahead of the West Ham United defeat, the Spaniard explained that he was back fit now but simply put the tie against Manuel Pellegrini’s men came too quickly, so it’s a fair assumption he may be in line for a recall against Everton on Wednesday evening.
RB on injury news: “Paul Dummett is very close but not enough for this game. The others – Lejeune, Sterry, Lascelles, Shelvey, Mutō – have all been training at least once. I have to decide the squad because I have almost everybody available.” #NUFC pic.twitter.com/3r0xxSNhpX
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 30, 2018
Prior to Benitez’s words, the player himself had taken to social media to send the fans a message about how he was ‘edging closer’ and was back out on the training pitches.
Edging closer 💪🏼 @NUFC ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/84tJSer0bF
— Paul Dummett (@PaulDummett) November 29, 2018
With plenty of fans believing that without him the left-hand side of the defence is a concern, his and Benitez’s words about a return sooner rather than later went over extremely well.
He's one of own!
— Wayne Ingram (@wayne_ingram17) November 29, 2018
Great ????????
— Littlepuntie NUFC ⚽️???????? ????????♂️ (@littlepuntie) November 30, 2018
Great news @PaulDummett!
Pain is temporary – Honor lasts for ever!— DirtyMoose (@moose_dirty) November 30, 2018
Great news for the Toon ????????
— Mark Radvanyi (@MarkRadMediaGuy) November 30, 2018
NUFC miss you when your not playing be good to see you back
— Ronan Liddane (@TerriersChair) November 30, 2018
Best left back in the league.
— ☩ Abel Fitzroy ⚫️⚪️ (@CustardGuy) November 29, 2018
Good to hear! It's so good finally having a solid defence! Great players #butnotmanquillo
— Dayle McCrae (@DMnUFC) November 29, 2018
Dummett does split the fanbase in some ways as technically there are better defenders out there in the game than him, but in my own opinion you can never fault his attitude or desire to do well and as an Academy graduate at the club, the pride he shows in the shirt.
Having him back will be a boost.