It’s fair to say Emil Krafth has been Newcastle’s unlikely hero over the first month of the new 2024/25 season.
When everyone is fit, the Swede is our third-choice right-back and arguably our sixth-choice ‘centre-back’ when Botman, Schar, Kelly, Burn and Lascelles are all fit.
Ever since Schar’s red card and three-match ban in our opening day win over Southampton, the 30-year-old has filled in superbly and barely put a foot wrong in league and cup. He’s helped us maintain an unbeaten start to the season, which has been built largely on his and Dan Burn’s grit and determination at the back.
It’s fair to say he’ll soon fall out of Eddie Howe’s starting 11 now Schar is back from suspension, but he’s proven to be a dependable player who rarely lets us down, raising questions around his future now he’s out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
His reliable displays have existed before his recent stint at centre-back, yet I do wonder if this latest run of rock solid displays could earn him and extension. He isn’t at the level required to start every week – much like reliable squad player Jacob Murphy down our right wing – but Krafth doesn’t complain and rarely lets us down when called upon.
For this reason, I feel he has probably played his way to a new contract, with his future one of several that must be sorted soon with him, Sean Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Callum Wilson, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Martin Dubravka all nearing the end of their deals.
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/09/11/has-newcastles-unlikely-hero-played-his-way-to-a-new-contract/
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2024-09-11 12:29:27
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