Vurnon Anita’s injury is worse news for Newcastle United than Dwight Gayle’s lay-off

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Rafa Benitez has publically praised the versatility of the Newcastle United midfielder/full-back – so how does he cope without him?

It’s a poorly held secret that Rafael Benitez is headhunting both a new left winger and a creative central midfielder to get Newcastle United’s title chase back on track.

However, the news that Dwight Gayle could miss up to three weeks of action after limping out of the 2-1 win at Brentford with a hamstring strain could well highlight another deficiency within a squad which, on paper, is one of the strongest ever to take on the Championship.

After all, when Gayle thumped home the opener at Griffin Park, he became the first Magpies to hit 20 goals in a league season since a certain Alan Shearer. As it stands, no other Newcastle player has scored more than four in 2016/17 while only Brentford’s Scott Hogan and Bristol City loanee Tammy Abraham have contributed a higher percentage of their team’s tally.

Nonetheless, while Gayle’s absence will test the squad’s depth to its limit, a long-term lay-off for Vurnon Anita could prove even more damaging to their title hopes.

According to The Chronicle, the Dutchman could miss more than two months with ankle ligament damage and, while his is not the most glamorous name on the team-sheet, he is an essential cog in Benitez’s squad.

“[Anita is] clever, he’s someone you can trust and I am very happy with him,” Benitez told The Chronicle earlier of the 27-year-old who, with minimal fuss, has flitted between full-back and defensive midfield roles this season.

He offers balance to the defence when slotting in on the right or left or provides a tenacious, tough-tackling midfield platform which allows his more technically proficient team-mates to thrive.

Anita is the ultimate utility man and every team needs one. Newcastle may struggle to cope without theirs. The squad is stretched enough as it is so they could certainly do with the man who can shift to fit even the roundest of holes.