Paul Dummett: The reliable Geordie that Newcastle fans love to hate

When you think of your modern day elite level left-back you think of marauding forward runs, you think of tantalising crosses into the box, you think of lung-bursting, overlapping darts into the final third of the pitch.



Long gone are the days when fans were merely content with their full-backs diligently working alongside their fellow defensive colleagues to nullify the opposition. The modern jurisdiction on what qualifies a player as an accomplished full-back now dictates that defenders must be technically proficient and as adept at threatening the opposition goal as they are at defending their own.



Although this drastic and pervasive revision of what is expected of a modern full-back has unquestionably led to more open encounters and greater entertainment value for the neutrals, it has also opened traditional and 'unfashionable' defenders up to widespread criticism.



The majority of fans would now much rather see their wide defenders score a 30-yard-screamer or deliver a pinpoint cross onto their talismanic centre-forward's head as opposed to them providing a goal saving challenge or rendering a troublesome forward obsolete as an attacking force. The 'YouTube generation' demand nutmegs, rabonas and cavalier attacking flair - being positionally aware and proficient at tracking your runners does not make for a particularly riveting three-minute tribute video.



The lavish praise heaped upon defenders who rack up assists and deliver deadly set-pieces in spite of their defensive fallibilities comes in stark contrast to the scorn and diatribe that now regularly greets full-backs who are a throwback to the unfashionable defenders of old. So what if you have marked someone out of a game or tucked in for your centre-halves to prevent danger? If you cannot now play with the same gusto and dynamism of a modern-day winger then it renders these pivotal duties as obsolete.



One individual who has suffered sustained and often undue criticism due to the contemporary vision of what now constitutes an effective full-back is Newcastle United defender, Paul Dummett.

A graduate of Newcastle's youth academy, local lad Dummett enjoyed fruitful loan spells with both Gateshead and Scottish outfit St.Mirren before making his break into the Magpies' first team squad during the 2013/14 Premier League season under then manager Alan Pardew.



Performing with exceptional commitment and an understated demeanour, the Toon faithful quickly took a shining to Dummett's no-nonsense playing style, and the Welsh international further endeared himself to the locals when he steered home an accomplished back post volley to secure an impressive 2-2 draw for Newcastle against high-flying Liverpool at St James' Park.



Dummett would go on to solidify his position as Newcastle's first-choice left-back heading into the 2014/15 season following Davide Santon's injury woes, and the local lad's exemplary attitude and desire to further himself as a player stood out throughout the campaign. However, despite Dummett's substantial improvements throughout the course of his first full season as an established Premier League footballer, murmurs of discontent began to stir throughout the Magpies' fan base when the Welshman's name was mentioned.



Exasperated with Dummett's conservative playing style and lack of meaningful attacking contributions, some sections of supporters began to label the defender as a scapegoat for Newcastle's meagre returns in front of goal, believing that his inclusion in the starting XI stifled the Magpies' attacking intent and encouraged the opposition to ' get at them'.



A more plausible explanation for Newcastle's conspicuous lack of forward spark would have cited the club's inability to sufficiently replace their chief attacking forces; Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba Hatem Ben Arfa following their respective departures from the club. However, a lack of imagination and spark throughout the Magpies' midfield and attacking ranks in following seasons placed Dummett's forward contributions under much greater scrutiny and ultimately contributed to the enduring assessment of the Welshman as a very limited defender.



This is not to say that all of the criticism that Dummett has received is unwarranted, far from it. The 25-year-old is undoubtedly found wanting in the final third far too often and he should be striving to vastly improve this side of his game. However, to solely focus on what Dummett is lacking does a major disservice to what he provides his team as a defensive outlet.



Positionally astute, solid in the air and stern in the tackle, Dummett was one of Rafael Benitez's most trusted lieutenants as Newcastle secured an instant return to the Premier League as Champions, with the defender amassing 46 appearances in all competitions to make a sizeable contribution to the Magpies' swift return to the top flight.

Tellingly, Benitez - one of the most esteemed managers in European football - has been one of Dummett's biggest advocates during his 18-month spell in the North-East. The former Liverpool boss has frequently eulogised over the Welshman's intelligence and application whilst he has been in charge, and he has even handed Dummett the captain's armband on numerous occasions when regular skipper Lascelles has been omitted from the starting XI.



As a fresh start in the Premier League beckons for the newly-promoted Magpies under Benitez and a summer of rebuilding gets well underway, many sections of the Newcastle fan base continue to persevere with their robust opposition to Dummett's position as the club's first-choice left back; imploring the club to invest in a more polished defensive outlet than the 'Championship quality' Welshman.



As one of Newcastle's standout performers during their promotion campaign and one of the squad's longest-serving members at just 25-years-old, Dummett's influence both on and off the field for the Magpies should not be underestimated, and fans should look to back the local lad heading into the new season.



Yes, he may not be appearing on Soccer AM's 'showboat' section any time soon, and he certainly won't rack up a high number of goals or assists throughout the season, but there's a lot to be said for a full-back that can defend with aplomb and carry out their manager's instructions to a tee. In the modern game, Dummett is a rarity.



Newcastle's most popular manager in over a decade, Rafael Benitez, clearly believes in Paul Dummett; maybe it's time the Toon Army start doing so too.