With Christian Atsu heading to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and Rolando Aarons sidelined with a long-term injury, Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez will presumably be looking to add a winger to his black and white roster during the January transfer window.
As it stands, Benitez will be left with only Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran to occupy the wide midfield positions in Atsu’s absence. If one goes down, a player would have to play out of position, like Anita did earlier in the season (and hopefully never will again).
Nathan Dyer is one player who would be a realistic January target.
Without Atsu, Newcastle will lack pace out wide. Ritchie and Gouffran have been fantastic this season but neither player is particularly quick. Dyer has pace in abundance and would give Rafa a nice alternative. Like Atsu, Dyer is willing to take on his man and would be an ideal replacement in that sense.
The 29-year-old also knows the Championship very well having played in it for six years with Swansea, Burnley, Southampton, and Sheffield United. His experience in this division would be invaluable as the season goes on.
He’s shown he’s capable of playing in the Premier League as well, having been a regular starter for the Swans during their first four years in the top flight. So, if we do achieve promotion, he’d be able to make the step up.
Dyer picked up an injury during the early stages of last year and has been unable to regain his starting berth in the Swans XI due to the emergence of wingers Modou Barrow and Jefferson Montero.
This year too he has struggled with injury. In September, he picked up a malleolar (ankle) injury and was sidelined for two months. He’s back now, but has only played 14 minutes of Premier League football all season and hasn’t been on the bench for any of Swansea’s last four games.
Dyer himself said he’d like to finish his career in South Wales after signing a new four-year deal earlier this season. But, with his minimal time out on the pitch, he may have to reconsider.
If signed in January, Dyer would not only be a great short term solution, but a fantastic long term one as well.
Would Nathan Dyer be a useful acquisition for Newcastle United? Contact us via our Twitter account @NUFC360 and let us know!