Steve Howey believes that Newcastle United’s Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar are the best defensive pairing currently at Steve Bruce’s disposal.
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, the former Toon and Manchester City centre-back listed the duo despite the “leadership qualities” of club captain Jamaal Lascelles.
“I mean, I like Lascelles. I think he’s a decent player,” he told Football FanCast.
“Again, it’s like all players, you kind of struggle with form and I think, obviously, with injuries as well with him – I totally understand that.
“I like Fernandez, Schar for me is a good player as well. Paul Dummett’s decent in there, Ciaran Clark’s done really well in there as well.
“It’s probably going to upset a few people but I’d probably say Fernandez and Schar are the strongest two.”
In four of the five fixtures which the North East club has played in the Premier League so far this season, Bruce has deployed the Toon in a four-back starting formation.
Only in the 3-1 victory over Burnley at St. James’ Park did Schar and Fernandez start alongside one another, with Lascelles starting alongside Fernandez in the other three matches with a four-back formation.
As mentioned by Howey, though, Bruce also has Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark as options in the centre of defence but neither have made a Premier League appearance for the Toon this season.
During the summer transfer window, Newcastle shipped out another centre-back option in 29-year-old Florian Lejeune on a loan deal to Spanish side Deportivo Alaves.
Howey went on to explain: “I mean, I thought Lejeune was decent and obviously he left. I think the leadership qualities, though, that you do get off Lascelles helps the team, so, it is a difficult one.
“I think on a football-base, I would go with Schar and Fernandez but, obviously, you’re missing them leadership qualities that Lascelles brings.”
While Bruce does appear to have a number of options for his central defensive pairing, the fact that Fernandez and Lascelles have begun alongside one another in three of their five top-flight matches so far this season suggests the English manager knows his favoured option.
The post Exclusive: Steve Howey names Newcastle United’s best centre-back pairing first appeared on FootballFanCast.com.
