Eddie Howe believes Ryan Fraser has proven his point that good players can play in various positions after shifting the winger’s role in his plans at Newcastle United, via Chronicle Live.
The Magpies boss favoured Fraser as a left-sided forward during their five-years together at Bournemouth between 2015 and 2020. But the 28-year-old has featured most often on the right-hand side at St James’ Park since Howe arrived in November to replace Steve Bruce.
Fraser could be a creative force at peak form in Howe’s Bournemouth, and is now showing that threat for Newcastle. Only Eden Hazard offered more Premier League assists than the Scotland international during the 2018/19 campaign, with 15 and 14 respectively that term.
Fraser hitting 14 assists and seven goals over 38 top-flight games in his penultimate season at Dean Court sparked transfer interest from Arsenal, per The Independent. It also saw him reject a new long-term contract at the Cherries, as their £30m asking price blocked a move.
So, Newcastle securing Fraser in 2020 in a free transfer appeared a big coup for Bruce. But the former Toon boss failed to restore the forward’s form between a string of injuries. Yet the Magpies are now starting to reap the rewards from reuniting Fraser with Howe.
Howe admits juggling Fraser, Saint-Maximin is a ‘difficult’ task at Newcastle
Fraser has thrived in Howe’s Newcastle in recent weeks as he looks nearer and nearer to his best form again. The 21-cap dynamo proved a constant thorn in Brentford’s side last Saturday to offer just his fifth assist in 44 Toon appearances in all competitions to date.
Howe deployed Fraser on the left away to the Bees with Allan Saint-Maximin absent with an injury. But the Scot is finding a home on the right, with Howe preferring to keep Saint-Maximin in his favoured role on the left-flank when he is fit and available to feature.
“[Fraser] has played very well for me on the left,” Howe said. “I’ve used him more off the right here due to Maxi preferring that side too, so it’s a difficult one. I’ve said before that good players can play in multiple positions, and Ryan’s proved that.”
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