The Newcastle United defender did a fine job against Birmingham City at the weekend.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez had a big decision to make with Magpies defender Ciaran Clark missing for the weekend clash against Birmingham City, and he ultimately plumped for Grant Hanley rather than Chancel Mbemba.
That decision did not go down well with a section of Newcastle supporters but by the full-time whistle Hanley’s performance had won over all but his fiercest critics.
The 25-year-old has barely featured for the club this season, making only eight league appearances and just 14 in all competitions, but after eight straight games as an unused substitute he shone against the Blues.
| Passing Accuracy | Effective Clearances | Effective Headed Clearances | Duels Won | Aerials Won | Ball Recoveries | Interceptions Won | Dispossessed | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Hanley | 94% | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 90 |
With a passing accuracy of 94 per cent, Hanley proved his quality on the ball while he recovered it on six occasions and was only dispossessed once all afternoon.
As always, he came into the Newcastle line-up and did exactly what was asked of him with minimal fuss, and while he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the simple fact is he is a vital squad member who performs admirably whenever called upon.
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