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Official Premier League site picks out Newcastle’s best four players

7 years ago
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An interesting article on the official Premier League website.

One of their writers looking at the Newcastle United squad that won the Championship title and picking out the strongest candidates to do well in the Premier League.

Basing it on the stats from the 46 match Championship campaign, the article was looking to give guidance for those picking Fantasy Football teams this coming season.

Interesting to see who the Premier League site writer found to be the top quartet from Rafa Benitez’ 2016/17 squad.

From the official Premier League site:

After bouncing back from relegation at the first attempt, Newcastle United’s key players will be on the summer radar of many Fantasy Premier League managers.

Key Newcastle FPL targets

Jamaal Lascelles

Number one for CBI (interceptions) and shots on goal among the Newcastle defence, the Magpies captain offers the most secure route into Benitez’s backline.

DeAndre Yedlin

An average of 61 minutes per key pass and 39.2 minutes per tackle were better than any promoted defender. If he can cement a regular role, Yedlin will rival Lascelles for our attentions.

Matt Ritchie

The Scotland international produced more shots (112) than any team-mate in 2016/17, averaging an effort every 31 minutes – quicker than any promoted midfielder. Crucially, Ritchie is Newcastle’s set-piece and penalty-kick taker.

Dwight Gayle

Firing a shot every 24 minutes on average, Gayle’s pace up front is ideally suited to the tactics of Benitez. Gayle appears to be the standout forward among the promoted sides but managers must be wary of the hamstring problems that limited him to just 26 starts.

There is plenty of talk as to who will be coming and going this summer at St James Park and even with these four above, I’m not sure you could say any of them are nailed on to be in the first team.

I think to varying degrees they are likely/very likely to be in the starting eleven but equally, Rafa Benitez will be looking to strengthen all areas of his team/squad, so much depends on the level of player he can land in whatever position.

Much of last season’s success was built on competition for places and you can be sure that to at least an extent, Rafa Benitez will be attempting to replicate that in the Premier League.

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