Newcastle United would be best served playing Federico Fernandez and Jamaal Lascelles together.
Newcastle United are yet to find any consistency in their defence so far this season, with manager Rafael Benitez switching between a back four and a back five.
The Magpies need to try recapture the form from last season, where the centre-back pairing of Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune were solid.
They are now without Lejeune for the foreseeable future due to his serious knee injury and Benitez needs to come up with a solution in the heart of defence over the international break.
One combination he’s not yet tried is captain Lascelles alongside summer recruit Federico Fernandez, who has been impressive since his move to St James’ Park.
Newcastle are far more drilled with a back four, which is why a new-look Lascelles-Fernandez combination could be the best decision moving forward, despite a back five showing positive signs in the defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.
Lascelles, 24, is the leader in the backline and should be striving to get back towards his best after a mediocre start as the key defender.
He should be paired alongside experienced 29-year-old Fernandez given his eye-catching form and the duo will give the side a much stronger look, which should see them start racking up points in the Premier League.
That would leave Fabian Schar and Ciaran Clark as alternative centre-back options in the squad, highlighting that there is some depth at Newcastle in certain areas of the pitch.
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