Steve Bruce has a big decision to make ahead of Newcastle United’s game against Watford as Matt Ritchie’s injury forces him out.
Ritchie, despite being a hugely talented attacker, was deployed at left wing-back by Rafa Benitez last season and his performances there have been hugely impressive for the Magpies so far.
New boss Steve Bruce has used the former Bournemouth man in the same position, but his injury will come as a huge blow ahead of the clash with Watford this weekend.
Paul Dummett is the natural alternative for Ritchie at left wing-back but Florian Lejuene’s injury has forced Bruce to play the Welshman in the left side of central defence. After his performance against Tottenham last weekend, moving Dummett out of the back three would be an unnecessary change, especially when summer signing Jetro Willems is more than capable of filling the Scotsman’s boots.
The Dutchman, once thought to be one of the biggest prospects in Dutch football, hasn’t quite fulfilled his potential but he can finally show what he is capable of if he is given a chance in Ritchie’s absence.
His pace, power and brilliant ability on the ball can help the Magpies cause serious damage in attack and his willingness to get back into the defensive positions gives Bruce the perfect balance on the left side.
Despite being only 25, Willems isn’t short of experience having played close to 300 senior games for club and country so far. Regular game time at St James’ Park could also help him return to the Dutch national side, something that he hasn’t done since October 2016.
Willems has a golden opportunity to cement a consistent starting role in Newcastle’s defence in the next two and months and if he can perform as well as he did for PSV a few years ago, Bruce will have a massive selection dilemma when Ritchie is fit.
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