Paul Dummett will reportedly sign a new contract with Newcastle United.
That’s according to the Sun, who claim the local lad is set to follow in Fabian Schar’s footsteps. The Swiss defender signed a new deal last week, extending his stay at St James’ Park until 2024.
The Magpies have multiple players who could leave on a free this summer, but it looks like Dummett is going nowhere.
The 30-year-old has barely featured this season, making just three appearances in total. He hasn’t played since coming off the bench in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa in February.
But despite his lack of minutes, Newcastle are absolutely right to give Dummett a new deal.
Giving Paul Dummett a new contract is absolutely the right decision
It may seem strange to advocate keeping a player who’s only started twice all season. Injuries have plagued Dummett, who wasn’t fit to feature until January.
Fitness hasn’t been an issue in recent months, but he simply hasn’t been able to get into the team. That’s because Matt Targett has been playing so well.
There’s also been less need for Dummett to play at centre-back, with Howe rarely opting to deploy a five-man defence.
But he is still a valuable member of the squad. He’s versatile, experienced and reliable.
If Targett was injured and Dummett had to come in, there wouldn’t be many people worrying. Sure, he’s not great offensively, but he’s as solid as they come as a defender – which is the man job of a left-back. If it was a toss up between Dummett and Jamal Lewis to replace Targett, I’d be picking Dummett every day of the week. You know what you’re going to get from him.
On top of being reliable, he’s also homegrown. That’s an important factor when picking a 25-man Premier League squad. You need players who’ve come through the academy, which is why Dummett remains an important component.
As Newcastle transition from relegation strugglers to eventual ‘big six’ challengers, we need players who understand the club. Dummett is exactly that.
Even if he doesn’t feature, he’s worth having around. That’s why he deserves a new contract at St James’ Park.