Newcastle United have just announced their squad numbers for the coming season, and there are a couple of revelations that stick out from the updated list. First and foremost, Hatem Ben Arfa has lost his number 10 shirt to incoming attacking midfielder Siem De Jong, confirming not only that the player will likely take up a starting position behind a lone central striker, but also that Ben Arfa is probably on his way out. It's no great surprise that Ben Arfa has ben shifted down the pecking order - taking up Mathieu Debuchy's vacant number 26 shirt - given the continued rumours that he is on the verge of being shifted out of the door, but it is somewhat strange that the player has been given a number at all. Precedent has suggested that such obviously unwanted players would be given no squad number at all - as Rob Lee unfairly was under Ruud Gullit - so there is a chance that Pardew's assertions that the player could force his way back into contention with a dramatic change in attitude. Of the other numbers, the most interesting are clearly the new signings, though none are particularly surprising: Remy Cabella takes number 20, Emmanuel Riviere 29, Jack Colback has gone for number 14, Daryl Janmaat is 22, Ayoze Perez is 17 and season-long loan signing Facundo Ferreyra will play as number 15. There have also been some changes in the rest of the squad: Ryan Taylor has taken the number 4 shirt (presumably because Jack Colback went for 14), Haris Vuckic has taken Shola Ameobi's number 23, and Rolando Aarons has been given number 16, suggesting that he will be closer to the first team than some might have thought - and rightly so, considering his impact in pre-season. There are also numbers for highly rated youngsters Olivier Kemen, Lubo Satka, Kevin Mbabu and Freddie Woodman who are all expected to be closer to the first-team this year. Meanwhile, if we are to take anything from the numbers in terms of ongoing transfer questions: Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson have both been ousted to deeper squad numbers, suggesting that they might well be available for loan again, while the lack of space left for any incoming signings might suggest that Alexandre Lacazette's impending deal isn't as close as previously thought. But then, if Ben Arfa leaves, he could be given the number 26 shirt, and it wouldn't be the most surprising thing if Papiss Cisse was sold last minute (or in January) facilitating a new number 9 next year from the current crop. The full squad list is as follows: 1 Tim Krul 2 Fabricio Coloccini 3 Davide Santon 4 Ryan Taylor 6 Mike Williamson 7 Moussa Sissoko 8 Vurnon Anita 9 Papiss Cisse 10 Siem de Jong 11 Yoan Gouffran 13 Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 14 Jack Colback 15 Facundo Ferreyra 16 Rolando Aarons 17 Ayoze Perez 18 Jonas Gutierrez 19 Massadio Haidara 20 Remy Cabella 21 Rob Elliot 22 Daryl Janmaat 23 Haris Vuckic 24 Cheick Tiote 25 Gabriel Obertan 26 Hatem Ben Arfa 27 Steven Tayor 28 Sammy Ameobi 29 Emmanuel Riviere 30 Mehdi Abeid 31 Jak Alnwick 32 Adam Armstrong 33 Curtis Good 34 Remie Streete 35 Adam Campbell 36 Paul Dummett 37 Lubo Satka 38 Gael Bigirimana 39 Shane Ferguson 40 Olivier Kemen 41 Freddie Woodm Which NUFC player will you be getting on the back of your shirt? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.
