Newcastle centre-back Florian Lejeune has been extremely unlucky with serious injuries in recent years, and he is finally closing in on a return to the first-team picture.
Had he not suffered multiple ligament issues, he would have been an automatic starter week after week, but now he has to be patient and await his opportunity.
Steve Bruce’s defensive tactics have seen Newcastle rely heavily on the back line, and he was consistent in who he has selected as a central-defensive three, until the thrashing at Leicester.
He drafted in Ciaran Clark for the following game, which was the win over Manchester United, at the expense of Paul Dummett. He kept faith with the Irishman for the Chelsea game last weekend, and it remains to be seen what he does for the Wolves game ahead.
Lejeune’s impending availability provides Bruce with another option, and when fit, the Frenchman’s distribution adds a new dimension to the Newcastle side.
So Toon Twitter account @NUFC_HQ asked the question: “Does Florian Lejuene [sic] walk straight back into the Newcastle backline once he’s 100% fit?”
It provoked a number of responses from fans, and there was an overwhelming agreement from the vast majority of them that he should.
Dummett and Clark would be the two likely to miss out
Dummett had done little wrong before the Leicester game, and I have always thought centre-back would turn out to be his strongest position.
Jamaal Lascelles, as skipper, is always likely to be selected, and Fabian Schar’s form makes him virtually undroppable, so leaving Dummett out of the side is the only logical answer.
While Clark did well against Manchester United, and similarly at Stamford Bridge, there is no doubt that he is nowhere near the quality of player Lejeune is.
It will be interesting to see if Bruce gives Lejeune a spot on the bench on Sunday, which could then be followed by a first-team recall. Certainly, the team will be a better side with him involved.
You can check out the @NUFC_HQ Twitter account here, but here are a selection of the replies to the Florian Lejeune question:
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