Interim Newcastle manager Graeme Jones has explained why Federico Fernandez has been frozen out of the first-team squad since the departure of Steve Bruce.
Speaking to the Chronicle, the Toon coach revealed Fernandez has been dropped because of the lack of need for an extra defender on the bench. The £6m defender has not played a minute since the sacking of Bruce.
The 32-year-old centre-back captained Newcastle against Watford and Wolves earlier in the season. But since Jones has taken control while the club seeks a replacement for Bruce, Fernandez has not even made the match-day squad.
Fernandez has featured heavily for Newcastle over the past 12 months. And although the Magpies defence has been woeful this season, freezing out the South American centre-back seems a strange decision.
The coach said about the Argentine: “I really like Fede (Fernandez) as a defender. But I didn’t see any value in putting him on the bench. If you’re winning, you’re not going to put him on. And if you’re losing, you’re not going to put him on.
Jones added: “Fede needs to start, or not. So, it’s the same reason as I left him out of the 20 at Palace. It’s the same reason as the boys did well.”
Our View: Jones is out of line to banish Fernandez from first team
With Fernandez being a staple of the Newcastle defence for most of 2021, Jones’ decision to freeze the centre-back from the senior squad is questionable.
Indeed, Newcastle have yet to register a clean sheet this season. But banishing a defender like Fernandez will do little to win support for Jones, who would surely want to remain at the club once a new manager has been appointed.
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