5 Southampton Players Who Newcastle Must Be Wary Of

By Matt Smith / August 7, 2015

3. Jordie Clasie

Morgan Schneiderlin was swiftly replaced by Feyenoord's Jordie Clasie, who will play in the centre of midfield against Newcastle on Sunday.

Once labelled as the "new Xavi Hernandez", Dutch international Clasie - who cost Southampton £8 million - is a very intelligent ball player and will dictate the pace of Southampton's counter attacks and movement.

Playing alongside Victor Wanyama as part of Koeman's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, the pair will form a tough double-pivot that Newcastle's attacking-midfielders will have to ghost in between if they are to get any success going forward.

Clasie will come up against fellow countryman Georginio Wijnaldum in what should be a fascinating midfield duel.