With Newcastle United being relegated to the Championship, it is expected that a few of the top players from the club would be looking to stay in the Premier League rather than battle it out in the lower tiers of England. While players such as Ayoze Perez, Tim Krul and even Daryl Janmaat could be on their way out of England there is a lot of speculation about one of the English stars in the team.
Andros Townsend was signed by Newcastle after failing to make much of an impact for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham and many believed the move was right for the player as he would get more time on the pitch at Newcastle compared to Spurs.
At Tottenham he only played 64 minutes in the Premier League, that too only as a sub while at Newcastle, after joining in the winter window, he played 13 games for the side notching up four goals and two assists. Those stats aren’t world beating by any stretch of the imagination but it does show that when he is given a chance to perform, he will get you a goal every other game.
That has been the problem for a player who was once touted to be yet another big thing for England. The 24-year-old broke into the Spurs team as a pacey winger, but that is all he has been so far; his end product is not the best. But put him on as a substitute and his pace will trouble even the best of defences.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move away from Newcastle, he has been named in the probable team for England, which are going to the Euros and that in itself was one of the shock decisions taken by Roy Hodgson. There are many clubs who would like to have a versatile player in their team, especially someone who can turn on the afterburners.
Townsend probably would be a decent squad player for a top four or even top six sides, obviously he would not be playing every game and would more often than not sit on the bench, but playing in the Europa League or challenging for a top four place does seem a slightly better prospect than playing against Derby in the Championship.
The football played in the Premier League is also of a better quality and Townsend knows that, plus if he does want to remain in the national team set up, he must perform at the highest level. Very few players stay in the English side after spending time in the Championship and Townsend moving to a Liverpool or even Manchester City – even if it is to fill up their homegrown quota – would not be the worst move in the world.
The English star does have time on his hand to thinfuture, buts future, but this decision could well be the last major one he makes about his chances of playing top quality football for the rest of his career.