The American appears to have ousted the Dutchman in the starting line up at Newcastle United.
Newcastle United’s decision not to extend the contract of the ultimate utility man Vurnon Anita, as reported by The Chronicle, may have taken a number of supporters by surprise.
After all, the Dutchman remains a reliable, versatile member of Rafael Benitez squad and, with The Magpies seemingly incapable of surviving a season without an injury crisis of some sort, letting him leave for free in the summer appears somewhat short-sighted.
On the flipside, however, Newcastle shunting Anita out of the exit door perhaps highlights just how impressed they have been with the progress of summer signing DeAndre Yedlin who, in Monday’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa, paraded down the right flank with speed and incision once again.
The jet-heeled America, who spent last season on loan at North East rivals Sunderland, has established himself as one of the first names on Benitez’s team sheet since the turn of the year with his performances in February alone being mightily impressive.
In fact, as Yedlin’s superb run of form has coincided with Anita’s injury enforced absence, the 2014 World Cup breakthrough act has demonstrated emphatically that he brings far more to the table in an attacking sense than the steady Dutchman.
Whereas the former Ajax man offers balance and durability in defence, Yedlin allows Benitez to take the game to opponents, exploding down the wing and offering another creative outlet in the final third.
Anita may be adept in a number of positions but right-back is a role Newcastle appear to have sewn up.
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