As a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at Newcastle United, academy coach Ben Dawson has reportedly been drafted in to help with first-team coaching.
Indeed, The Athletic reveal the Magpies’ former U23 manager is set to work with the first-team after a number of infections within the club saw the training ground have to shut.
With some first-team stars thought to be in doubt for the visit of Aston Villa on Friday night, a number of players in the younger age groups could feature at least on the bench, so long as they are either 22 or younger, or have played first-team football at some point in their careers.
So, should the youth have to be called upon, it does seem right to include Dawson, having worked with them closely in his role as the club’s head of academy coaching.
While he may not be the most familiar of faces, Dawson has worked in the top job before, albeit on a temporary basis. During the period in which Rafa Benitez had left and prior to the arrival of Steve Bruce, he ran first-team proceedings alongside Neil Redfearn.
They lost his game in charge 4-0 during a Premier League Asia Trophy meeting with Wolves but, given that was the first game of a pre-season tournament amid a change in manager, it would be harsh to judge him on that.
What would you do with Miguel Almiron?
Keep
Sell
Clearly a respected coach given his important role at the club, it’ll be interesting to see what he can offer this week.
In other news, Steve Bruce’s approach could be ruining Sean Longstaff. Read about it here.