Paul Dummett started this campaign making seven straight starts before he was replaced by Ciaran Clark for the 1-0 win over Manchester United in October. Over the next five matches, he made two substitute appearances, including coming on for the injured Jamaal Lascelles in the 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in early November.
Paul kept his place over the next six matches, even playing as a left-sided midfielder in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. However, Paul’s struggle with injuries returned, and he missed the next three games through the holiday fixtures.
He came back in the 1-1 draw at Molineux but only lasted 13 minutes after rupturing his Achilles tendon. That was Paul’s season over with, and he was not part of the 25-man squad named in January, or so it seemed.
With this season being suspended in mid-March and scheduled to return in a couple of weeks, Paul’s season may not yet be finished. He spoke to nufc.co.uk about his recovery and his hope to play a part in the final stretch of this season:
“It’s been about 20 weeks since I got injured, so it has been a long time. I’ve done everything I could in terms of equipment that I had at home, with strength work that I had to do for the hamstring and all the running sessions I was getting sent over from the physios.
“I kept on top of those – five running sessions and three gym sessions a week – so I did everything I could to make sure that when training did restart, I was ready to go, and I feel really good. I joined in an 11 v 11 game the other day – it was only a 45-minute game but I felt totally fine, and I’ve spoken to the manager about the squad situation as well.
“He’s hopeful, and the club are hopeful, that the rules will be relaxed and changed. Whether we can add extra players to the 25-man squad or resubmit the 25-man squad, we’ll have to see what happens, but hopefully the Premier League will change the rules because there’s obviously a lot of factors where that would be beneficial.”
An increase in squad size for the rest of this season could be a measure to help with this unprecedented situation. Players will have not played competitively for three months by the time this season restarts.
With the rest of the campaign being squeezed into a six-week timeframe, it could be an option the league considers. In May, it was announced that the International Football Association Board increased the number of substitutions to five so that will help with fitness concerns.
As of now, Steve Bruce has a full squad at his disposal. However, if this season has shown us anything, that could not be the case for long.
125 comments so far
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #1i’m confident and i’m staying confident about the takeover of our club happening…
Optimistic prime
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:34 AM
Comment #2I’m confident we’ll be playing in black n white strips next year, other than that the jury is still out.
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:35 AM
Comment #3Op …
where did you get your info from ;D
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:36 AM
Comment #4😀 😀 😀
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:37 AM
Comment #5Does the transfer window open next Wed on the 10th June with players being able to sign on the 1st July?
Or has that all changed? Anyone know?
Jib
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Comment #6Still the 10th as far as I know
DaveD1000
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Comment #7https://talksport.com/football/665959/when-will-transfer-window-open-premier-league-coronavirus/
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:44 AM
Comment #8Thanks Jib.
The PL really do need to pull their finger out then.
Otherwise players like Soumare, Edouard, etc will just sign for another team.
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Comment #9Cheers DaveD1000 for the link
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Comment #10with the lockdown being on i cant see why people would go to the ground when they announce the takeover , nobody is gonna be at the ground connected with the takeover ie: Staverley the ruebens etc . so whats the point going to the ground ? …
Jib
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #11Those police vans are actually guys working on the advertising hoardings
in Strawberry Pl – doh !!!
They look like they may be removing them , ready for building work to start.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #12GhostToon
I think it’s 10th of June for registering players, too. Teams can sign players at any point during a season. The window governs when those players can be registered, not when they can be signed, so players signed outside of transfer windows can’t play for their new club until the next window arrives.
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Comment #13https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-uniteds-takeover-outcome-now-18360588
Kevin Vegan
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Comment #14If that date (10th of June) hasn’t been moved, in theory teams can bring in new players ready for when play resumes.
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:55 AM
Comment #15kev …
happy birthday young man …
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 9:59 AM
Comment #16KV
Yeah I do understand that and no one knows when the new season will start.
However what I was trying to say is we could miss out on some of our proper targets if we dont get PL greenlight ASAP and it all gets dragged out till mid July.
Soumare said he would be interested however I’m guessing thats with new owners and not Jabba as the owner.
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Comment #17Happy b.day Kev
RobLeenio
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #18KV, not quite.
A club cannot approach a player registered with another team and under contract to that team, unless they are in the final year of that contract. In that circumstance, they are able to speak to other clubs after the 1st of January, with a pre-contract agreement then able to be signed.
The pre-contract agreement is a legally binding agreement to join another team following the expiration of the player’s current contract with his current team. How binding these are, I don’t know, I’m not sure that they have ever been tested in court – in theory it would be the player or the new club backing out and that seems unlikely.
The interesting thing for me with Matty (and Manquillo who is also out of contract this Summer) is that they haven’t signed a pre-contract agreement with any other team, or at least it’s not been reported as happening.
Why not? What are they waiting for?
Happy Birthday, btw.
GhostToon
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #19Anyway its neither here or there the announcement will happen when it happens.
Jib
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #20Kevin Vegan
If that date (10th of June) hasn’t been moved, in theory teams can bring in new players ready for when play resumes.
Nope
Deals can be done from June 10th
but registration doesn’t happen until July first
Moonraker15
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:04 AM
Comment #21geordietom
Going to the ground when the takeover is announced will happen in numbers! It’s a natural reaction to celebrate a huge moment in our history for many fans! I won’t be there by the way!
DaveD1000
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:07 AM
Comment #22Happy Burpday Kevin Vegetable
Jib wasn’t there small changes talked about so they could sign sooner than normal.?
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #23Rob
I think the 1st of January thing is only with teams from abroad, teams in the PL have to wait until the contract is over before speaking to the player.
RobLeenio
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:12 AM
Comment #24Moony, given the crowds around Downing Street and Hyde Park yesterday and the way that has been covered in the media, how can the powers that be suggest that Newcastle fans should behave differently?
Again, like you, I won’t be there either, but I’m just as certain as you that people will gather.
RobLeenio
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:14 AM
Comment #25I’m also certain that the National media will give us all kinds of cr@p for it. too.
🙁
Jib
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:15 AM
Comment #26DaveD1000
It seems to be a fluid situation
The rules could be changed on a whim in the blink of an eye
hibbit
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #27Tom
no disrespect mate but that lack of understanding on the fans turning up at st james is because your in derby, thousands will turn up the minute its announced as the mood of euphoria sweeps through the city, the magnetic pull of st james will far out weigh common sense,
Kevin Vegan
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Comment #28Thanks for the birthday messages everybody 🙂
Moonraker15
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #29RobLeenio
Wild horses won’t keep them away but let’s hope they are sensible. It will be the biggest event in our history because we’re moving from premier league “also rans” to premier league elite!
It’s fantastic and I feel it’s happening soon!
There’s no way they will stop the deal; the statement from the government minister that it was for the premier league to decide was, in effect a signal to proceed bearing in mind the trade links between our countries !
We’re going places soon!
Howay the lads.
DaveD1000
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #30Rob
Northern crowds will be expected to distance 6′ 6″ doff flatcaps and keep the whippets quiet.
Jib yea seem to remember something around making it easier for little clubs to raise cash by selling players
Moonraker15
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:23 AM
Comment #31geordietom
How’s your optimism today mate?
RobLeenio
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:23 AM
Comment #32Gothmog’s PJs, well surely that would mean that Matty could sign a pre-contract agreement with Udinese then? Or Roma, who were also strongly rumoured to be sniffing round.
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:25 AM
Comment #33Unless they arent actually bothered and its his agent creating the noise to get a better contract from us?
Or that he wants to see what happens with the takeover before deciding?
Kevin Vegan
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:29 AM
Comment #34RobLeenio,
I was under the impression that teams could talk to players at any point in the player’s contract once they had a formal transfer offer accepted for that player.
AsI said, to the best of my understanding, the “transfer window” (as it is known) is actually a “player registration window”, so teams can sign players between windows, but they can’t be registered. This appears to be what the FA guidelines state, anyway:
http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/december-2015-updates/fifa-regulations-on-the-status-and-transfer-of-players.ashx
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:30 AM
Comment #35hibbit …
i get what your saying but thousands turning up cops will get involved etc etc …
Kevin Vegan
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Comment #36Jib,
Can you provide a source for the 10th being a “transfer window” and the registration opening in July? If you check the link I posted above, it states that the window is a “registration window” and it does not appear that transfers are prohibited outside the window, only that transferred players have to wait until the window opens to be registered with a new club.
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:34 AM
Comment #37moonraker…
i’m not optimistic i’m hopeful and confident about the future of our club , i knw its the same thing mate 😀
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:35 AM
Comment #38DAVE#30 …
you forgot aboot the pidgeon’s mate 😀
geordietom
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:38 AM
Comment #39HIBBIT …
not a lack of understanding , thousands turn up it gets out of hand more bad press for us …
in Derby but i’m still a geordie and proud to be a geordie …
hibbit
Jun 4, 2020 at 10:39 AM
Comment #40Tom right or wrong it will happen and i’m sure the match commander is well aware of the fact !!!