The summer signing has not started Newcastle United’s last two matches despite his quality.
Mikel Merino has arguably been Newcastle United’s best player so far this season, so it is somewhat surprising that Magpies boss Rafa Benitez opted to start the Spaniard on the bench for recent matches against Southampton and Crystal Palace.
On both occasions Merino came off the bench, adding composure against the Saints in an end-to-end encounter and scoring the winner against Palace a few days later.
But if Benitez continues to favour Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey in the centre of the park, could he find an alternative position for Merino, with Newcastle’s summer signing replacing Ayoze Perez further forward?
After all, aside from his strike against the Saints Perez has done little to justify his regular inclusion and Merino’s quality on the ball, passing ability and – as he proved on Saturday – goal-scoring nous mean he could work wonders playing directly behind Joselu.
He may have arrived at Newcastle with a reputation as a holding midfielder, but Merino is far more than that and he could excel if allowed to express himself ahead of Shelvey and Hayden.
It would be a brave move on the part of Benitez, yet Perez is not showing enough and a rethink regarding Merino could fire Newcastle to an entirely different level.
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