Newcastle United have made a fairly decent start to life back in the Sky Bet Championship, with nine points from their first five games of the campaign.
After signing a glut of high profile players over the summer, the Magpies are widely expected to push for the title this season with the likes of Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle representing real statements of intent from the club.
Newcastle will be the prized scalp for every other side in the division and that is something that they will have to learn to deal with over the course of the campaign.
Following relegation from the Premier League last season the squad still has some deadwood remaining, which Rafa Benitez might look to offload when the transfer window reopens in January.
Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at three members of the Newcastle United squad who are overrated.
Jack Colback
The central midfielder was always going to struggle to impress the Newcastle United faithful given his Sunderland links and the move to St. James’ Park hasn’t really worked out.
The 26-year-old has played 64 times for the Magpies but his disjointed period of form has not seen him win over the club’s supporters.
Colback has started just once this season and with other players ahead of him for a shirt in the middle of the park, his days at the club could be numbered.
Jamaal Lascelles
The young central defender moved to Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in 2014 and has since made 23 appearances for the club, after initially struggling to get into the team.
It was something of a surprise when Rafa Benitez announced prior to the campaign that the 22-year-old would be his captain for the season, with his place in the team still under consideration.
The former Nottingham Forest man was dropped after just two games for a couple of costly errors and his positional sense needs serious work if he is to become a top defender.
Paul Dummett
Although very much one of their own, the Newcastle-born left-back can be short on quality on occasions with a lapse in concentration firmly in his locker.
Newcastle reportedly turned down a bid of £4.5 million for their defender on deadline day, which is astonishing in itself given Dummett’s sporadic form.
At 24-years-old the player could still develop into a decent player but it remains to be seen whether Rafa Benitez will give him the required football, with a plethora of talent now at the club chomping at the bit for game time.
Newcastle United fans, do you agree that these players are overrated? Who else should be included as overrated? Let us know in the comments below!!!