Forgotten Newcastle hero repays Eddie Howe and reminds us what money can't buy

28 September 2023 , 11:23

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When Newcastle welcomed Manchester City in the Carabao Cup third round, £797million of talent was on display and the Toon's star £60m striker Alexander Isak scored the only goal to earn the hosts a memorable 1-0 win.

But the most poignant moment of Wednesday night's match was provided by a man who cost nothing. Paul Dummett, a Geordie lad who's been at the club since he was nine years old, was subbed off in the 94th minute to a standing ovation. St James' Park rose to its feet after watching a defiant, dogged defensively display from their often overlooked homegrown hero, who hadn't made an appearance for 13 months.

A day after Dummett celebrated turning 32, Eddie Howe gave him the nod to start at centre-back alongside Jamaal Lascelles, another long-serving member of the Toon Army, the club captain coming out of the proverbial woodwork to conquer Pep Guardiola's Treble winners. But it was Dummett who gave an emphatic reminder to both clubs that money can't buy everything, booking a mouthwatering fourth-round trip to Manchester United in the process.

This, of course, was no A-list City lineup, but their attack which included Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku over the course of the evening would be enough to trouble even the soundest of back lines. While it was the £103m combination of Joelinton and Isak which got Newcastle their all-important goal eight minutes into the second half, Dummett's performance was the bedrock of victory.

The Wales international marshalled City's forward well, particularly in the second half when the introductions of Howe signings Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes swung the momentum in the home side's favour. Dummett made three blocks, two clearances, two interceptions and boasted a 91 per cent passing accuracy, although fans will most fondly remember his last-ditch tackle on England star Grealish to ensure a fourth clean sheet in a row for Newcastle.

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Forging a throwback partnership with Lascelles - who signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014 and whose attitude behind the scenes has also impressed Howe - Dummett showed why St James' chiefs were happy to hand him a one-year contract extension this summer, despite his last appearance coming in August 2022.

Forgotten Newcastle hero repays Eddie Howe and reminds us what money can't buy

Paul Dummett impressively dealt with Jack Grealish and co (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

That night, the Magpies academy graduate played next to Lascelles at centre-back in a second-round win against Tranmere Rovers, in a 2-1 victory. Over a year later, Dummett was back, sending some of the world's finest and most expensive stars home frustrated.

Newcastle's own big spending has left him as somewhat of an afterthought. There were huge cries this summer to recruit a new centre-back who could compete with Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, but Howe made it clear in the media room after masterminding his first ever win over Guardiola just how much he values having Dummett at his disposal.

"I thought Paul was absolutely outstanding," the Magpies boss declared. "I think when you see him behind the scenes every day; his commitment to Newcastle, the professionalism that he shows, his standards have been exemplary since I've been here. That's why I was so determined to keep him in the summer, he can still play an important role on the pitch.

"He's got real experience and a really good defensive mindset. I thought him and Jamaal, the pair of them today, were really, really good for us. I'm delighted we showed that strength in our backline because it's going to be hugely important this season."