As reported by Lee Ryder in The Chronicle in May, England were monitoring both Jack Colback and Paul Dummett late last season and, with the horrific injury suffered by Manchester United’s Luke Shaw last week, the England left-back role at Euro 2016 is suddenly up for grabs.
‘Welsh’ international Paul Dummett, despite playing vs Holland last summer in a World Cup warm-up game, could still be snatched by The Three Lions until awarded a competitive cap by his grandfather’s home country, Wales.
In many ways, England are the Newcastle United of the international scene — both great football institutions last won a major trophy in the 1960s, flirted with recapturing major glory in 1996 before failing to live up to the big expectations both share from their fans in the 21st century — so far.
And both could do with the no-nonsense defending of Paul Dummett, who was awarded The Magpies’ no. 3 shirt for services rendered in the summer and his own ‘I Don’t Care’ terrace anthem. His return to fitness following a hamstring injury could not be more timely for his hometown club —Newcastle conceded their 9th goal of the season in only their 6th game on the weekend and four of those have came at home from the left-back position.
Two crosses from the right side by Southampton on the opening day of the day season were headed in Graziano Pelle and Shane Long, a shot by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Massadio Haidara’s position against Arsenal was the game’s only goal and Watford pounced on the left-back’s mistake to score their first goal.
While Haidara is good going forward and would make a perfect attacking wing-back in a back five, he leaves a lot to be desired as a defensive full-back in a four-man backline in terms of positioning and basic stopping of attackers.
Geordie Paul Dummett, however, has those qualities in abundance. He is a tough-tackling, proper defender who makes life difficult for any attacker and rarely gives any team or attacking opponent much change or encouragement on his side.
Last season, Newcastle amassed 39 total points in the Premier League and 31 of those were in teams with Dummett including seven clean sheets. Comparatively, only 8 points were gained without him.
Attacking-wise, it is Dummett who has actually scored goals for Newcastle rather than the supposedly more attacking Haidara – a fine goal against Liverpool in a pulsating 2-2 draw in 2013/4 and a crucial late diving header winner in The League Cup Third Round at Crystal Palace to send The Magpies through to the 4th Round.
He followed it up with participation in the best two wins of the 2014/5 season — Man City away 2-0 in the League Cup at The Etihad in October and the 2-1 defeat of Chelsea in the Premier League in December.
Newcastle’s next two Premier League opponents are Chelsea next Saturday — when Dummett turns 24 – then Manchester City away. If The Magpies are to get anything from the two, Dummett must play.
At The Etihad last season, Dummett actually played centre-half with Coloccini yet his services as a full-back are going to be sorely needed to stop the leakage of goals down the right-wing, especially at home against Chelsea.
Haidara is faring slightly better away from home as the clean sheet at Manchester United demonstrated, yet he must be dropped for defensive solidity as soon as Dummett is available.
Generally, Newcastle need more staunch, physical players in their line-up to restore Geordie pride and Dummett, alongside the team’s most robust spine of Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote and Aleksandar Mitrovic, possesses the backbone to trouble the big boys.
Right now, they are a soft touch, made slightly sterner by Vurnon Anita’s omission against Watford yet the next weakest link Haidara was exposed instead. A greater urgency and killer instinct is required. Having more Geordies in the line-up who know that Newcastle games are the lifeblood of the area and are willing to put their bodies on the line, are sorely needed.
Ruthlessness, urgency and a basic Geordie toughness and streetwise edge is something the full England national team sorely lacked at The World Cup, and are qualities that the national side need in France next year.
Despite sailing through the qualification process and topping the group like before The World Cup in Brazil, it’s only until England face a proper side like Italy or Germany that their true limitations will be exposed.
Everton’s Leighton Baines, injured until November, didn’t cover himself in glory at The World Cup and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs hasn’t proven an adequate replacement for Ashley Cole either. Contrast the way England were bullied off Uruguay in Brazil with the way Luis Suarez almost missed the World Cup after a clash of knees with Dummett in one of his last games with Liverpool for which the Geordie was wrongly sent off and had his red later rescinded.
Versatility is a key attribute at international tournaments and Dummett, equally comfortable at left-back or centre-back, could prove a very good squad member at the very least and provide vital balance to the squad.
When he wins his battle for fitness, Newcastle will have one of their hardest battlers back in their ranks and England would do well to capture Dummett’s international future with a Cap before they miss out on a proven Premier League competitor. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
