For a while now it's seemed that Paul Dummett has been invulnerable in Newcastle's starting line-up: his unspectacular performances seem to suggest he is in the team more as an issue of local pride rather than one of ability. But it seems there is indeed a reason why he's being blooded at full-back - the manager thinks he plays elsewhere. Pardew has admitted that he thinks Dummett is a centre-back; something he proved with a strong performance this week against Man City in the cup, and that he's been playing him at left-back to help him understand the game. Which sounds a little bit like putting someone in the bath to help them understand the ocean. Anyway, this is good news for Newcastle fans, as hopefully it leaves the door open for Massasio Haidara to play left-back, which is particularly key against Liverpool and Raheem Sterling in particular. Haidara is easily the best defender of all the left-backs on the club's books, and he's also strong, committed and crucially fast, and he will not make it easy for Raheem Sterling to get around him. His positional sense is a lot better than Dummett's at left-back, which makes a lot of sense now it turns out he's actually a centre-half, and obviously his starting positions are a lot more natural. Additionally, his attacking bent means he will either force Sterling back into his own half some of the time, or he will exploit the space left behind him. Either way, it makes more sense to have him in the starting line-up than Dummett. Let's just say whether Pardew agrees today.
