The Newcastle United Blog

Written by Neil Harrison

10:57am Thursday, September 26th, 2019

Commented 26 times

It is Paul Dummett’s birthday today and he has turned 28-years-old. The club have issued the following tweet for the occasion.

Happy birthday to one of our own, @PaulDummett! ??? #NUFC pic.twitter.com/1G4FLn6ORN
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 26, 2019

Paul is enjoying a lengthy spell in the first-team at the moment. He has put in some top performances on the left side of Newcastle’s back three. However, with the return of Florian Lejeune to training yesterday, the local lad could have to work even harder to keep his place in the side.

Newcastle are not starved for choice at the back. The core group of defenders is the strongest the club have had in their recent history. However, it is the depth at the position that is the most impressive. With six quality players battling it out for three spots, it is good problem for Steve Bruce to have.

Former Newcastle defender and current Gateshead manager Mike Williamson spoke to the Chronicle about Newcastle’s crop of central defenders. This is what he had to say:

“It is a headache for the manager but it’s a good one to have. I think they all have the right ingredients to play that three.
“You can have the freedom to step in when it opens up and play, and they’re all very comfortable on the ball. I think they all defend first as well.
“I think it is strong, and you could argue they would walk into a lot of Premier League teams as well, which proves the level of players that Newcastle have got.
“Newcastle is a huge club, and the more competition you can have for places then the higher you’ve got to be personally to earn the shirt. It’s a fantastic situation for the club to have.”

We have seen the benefit of playing with a back three in the outstanding performances of Fabian Schar. Fabian has the ability to bring the ball forward and having players like Paul Dummett as cover allows Fabian this freedom. Florian Lejeune is also very good on the ball so his return will provide plenty of options for Steve Bruce.

Williams also spoke about Dummett during his interview. Mike was at the club when Paul first came into the first team. This is what Mike had to say about his former teammate.

“Dummy, the style of player he is, has always been that kind of unsung hero.
“There’s been many of them, and I don’t think some people saw the value he brought to the team.
“I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed playing with him, he knows what he’s about and he does what he’s strong at and he does it well.
“People like that, I couldn’t be happier they’re getting the praise and rewards they deserve. He works very hard and I always know from my time there the players like himself might not be on the teamsheet week in, week out.
“But whenever you need a result and characters with honesty and desire, he will be the first one on the teamsheet.”

The competition for places is definitely heating up at Newcastle. In addition to Florian Lejeune, Matt Ritchie will likely be back next month. Allan Saint-Maximin also appears to be fine after his appearance against Brighton. DeAndre Yedlin is getting close to a return as well.

With these players, among others, coming into contention for places, Bruce will have a lot of selection headaches. However, it will provide a wealth of options for the head coach who has been so limited in his selections so far.

26 comments so far

Anglo Saxon
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:01 AM
Comment #1
Thursday Bloomberg. Billionaire Retailer Ashley Loses Court Battle With Debenhams. 1 down, 3 to go.
8
Rotonda heights
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:04 AM
Comment #2
Jib
Where do you think we will realistically finish under Bruce?
2
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Comment #3
Jib,
Can’t you see any parallels at all with the last relegation season.
9
Anglo Saxon
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:13 AM
Comment #4
Jail, Jib reckons Almiron will score 22 goals this season, think it best to not take his football Knowledge too seriously my friend.
9
Ron Knee
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:18 AM
Comment #5
RIP Jacques Chirac.
1
Ron Knee
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:20 AM
Comment #6
Not looking good for Ginger:
A tweet posted from his official account reads: “The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers tonight.”
3
Anglo Saxon
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:25 AM
Comment #7
Ron Knee you cannot burn the candle at both ends mate, but what a drummer.
5
martoon
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:27 AM
Comment #8
Jib – I’m not basing my opinion on points but what I’ve seen so far in our home games against Watford & Brighton. If we keep playing like that we’ll be relegated, however being an optimist I think we will get better especially with the returning players. Surely even you must agree that after a poor start you had more faith that Rafa could turn it around rather than Bruce?
6
Anglo Saxon
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:35 AM
Comment #9
Ron Knee just for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azOczMqyu90
2
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:43 AM
Comment #10
Rafa last season against Spurs , Cardiff, Brighton and Man Utd at the start of the season we should have won but either due to poor finishing or dodgy referee calls we lost them all but we were unlucky!
We haven’t deserved any points so far there hasn’t been a game where we have been dominant and in our only win we were lucky Spurs didn’t pound us like they did to Palace the week or two after!!
Bruce needs to stop moaning and start doing his job properly put players in their correct positions and send us out with a game plan to get the win in the next two Live TV games as Leicester and Man Utd are not invincible!
6
Rotonda heights
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Comment #11
Martoon
Very balanced again
2
Rotonda heights
Sep 26, 2019 at 11:57 AM
Comment #12
I think Bruce replacing Rafa was the last straw for many. However, the thought of Allardyce and the first time round chants of ”you don’t know what you’re doing” still burn very deep.
3
The Wife
Sep 26, 2019 at 12:01 PM
Comment #13
Good morning!
hibbit – I’m afraid there’s no option for a thumbs up/down for blog comments. I even checked to see if the hearts could be removed altogether, but couldn’t find a way to turn those off either. I can’t write code, and I didn’t want to risk breaking the blog so…we have to live with just hearts. 🙂
3
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2019 at 12:41 PM
Comment #14
The Wife,
Are you sure you’ve never broke the blog 😀
3
Lindisfarne
Sep 26, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Comment #15
The hearts are sometimes the only positive thing about the blog.
4
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Comment #16
Whatever anyone thinks of Steve Bruce, his managerial ability is just a small cog in the disaster waiting to unfold this season. Unless they’d brought in a top manager and given him a budget to spend as he saw fit it wouldn’t have mattered who they brought in this situation would have happened anyway. Do you think Perez’s comments were a surprise to his teammates or that Rondon had kept his thoughts to himself. They all know that with Rafa leaving so did any form of success and a continual relegation battle is all they’ve got to look forward to and they must be sick of it, Lascelles and Dummet know all too well what the club is all about under a second rate chancer.
0
martoon
Sep 26, 2019 at 12:52 PM
Comment #17
Rotonda heights@11 – Cheers – I say it as I see it without trying to sound too much like a doom & gloom merchant.
The Wife – When the blog was first revamped by Kacper Tylenda he used to be available for fixes and tweaks – can I assume that’s not the case anymore?
1
hibbit
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:42 PM
Comment #18
The Wife
thank for the reply one or the other would done ‘ just think the current system is unbalanced, if you can agree with a post it would only be fair to allow us to disagree,
thank you for trying enjoy your day.
2
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:44 PM
Comment #19
hibbit,
The last thing I need is carl and his cuckoos nest giving me seven thumbs down everytime I post 😮
7
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:47 PM
Comment #20
I must admit I preferred the old format as I could load a page somewhere on the rig with wifi then go and read (back in the day) 200 comments, now after 40 comments it’s done, you also have to scroll back when your comment hits 41 as you might have missed a couple of posts while you were writing yours.
3
hibbit
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:50 PM
Comment #21
agree JAIL just hated you for good luck 😀
0
hibbit
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #22
*hearted* 😉
1
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 26, 2019 at 2:04 PM
Comment #23
https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/09/rafa-benitez-asked-best-newcastle-signing-and-game-he-wished-hed-won-as-well-as-low-nufc-crowds-newcastle-united/
Sorry, not sorry.
Rafa Rafa Rafa
2
lochinvar
Sep 26, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Comment #24
How thick can you get ?
Derby County captain Richard Keogh has been ruled out until the end of the season due to a knee injury sustained in a crash that led to two of his team-mates being arrested.
Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have been charged with drink-driving following the accident in the city’s Allestree area on Tuesday night.
Police said a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes GLC had collided.
1
Jib
Sep 26, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Comment #25
Rotonda heights
Jib
Where do you think we will realistically finish under Bruce?
Mid Table and a good FA cup run
1
geordietom
Sep 26, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Comment #26
hope he dont drop miggy at the weekend , maximin hopefully he’s fit for sunday , play miggy for an hour then put maxi on . carroll for 15/20 mins if we need him that is . any news on Longstaff for sunday ??…
0

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17 February, 2023

I have an update on what's happening with my treatment for prostate cancer.

Last week, my oncologist called me late in the day and said he thought it was best to terminate my treatment with radium 223 dichloride because it was having such a negative effect on my health - specifically my digestive system.

I had completed 3 of the planned 6 infusions.

They had looked at the bone scans and three CAT scans I had early last week, and they showed no signs of the cancer spread being slowed or stopped: in fact, it was continuing to spread and my PSA account continued to rise.

The only treatment left now is to go back and have another bout of chemotherapy with docetaxel being the medication used.

I understand this will be a 7-month job with 10 sessions 3 weeks apart - almost double my first chemo treatment in Apil 2017, when I has 6 treatmnts.

The problem I have is that I'm in a very poor physical state right now, due to my digestive system being basically torn apart by the radium 223.

The radium 223 has leaked into my digestive system and caused me to have severe diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, and it was (is) very serious.

They said it was too dangerous to proceed with the radium 223 treatment, with little benefit being shown.

I am also suffering from severe exhaustion, basically, because I have zero testosterone, and all the treatments I've had for the cancer, have further lessened the energy available to me.

It reminds me of the saying that if cancer doesn’t kill you - the treatment will (laugh).

It will probably take up to 8 weeks to get back to a physical state where I can start chemotherapy, and that's where I am now, but the cancer continues to spread in the bones.

I've also been put in touch with the dietitian from UNC Healthcare, who will help me get back my health - she is very helpful.

So that's where it stands it's been quite a journey over 12 years and I think I've had almost every treatment available.

It has really taken a toll on my body and on my energy, but that's where it stands and obviously, I'll do the best I can in the upcoming months with chemo and hope I can get through it.

It is as it is - and another challenge in life.

Ed Harrison