Eddie Howe hints at new contract for long-serving Newcastle United star

Eddie Howe wants to keep Paul Dummett at Newcastle United beyond the end of the season.

The Geordie defender is out-of-contract this summer and has played made just three Premier League appearances in 2021/22.

Dummett’s first-half of the campaign was severely hampered by a calf injury that was sustained in pre-season.

Though when fit and available in recent months, the 30-year-old has been an unused substitute in the previous nine games.

Admittedly for Dummett and head coach Howe, January loan signing Matt Targett is in top form at left-back as he looks to seal a permanent move from Aston Villa.

Dummett has gone somewhat under the radar on Tyneside with Howe largely questioned about Fabian Schar and Sean Longstaff’s contract situations in recent weeks.

Asked about Dummett’s future by NewcastleWorld, Howe confirmed his intention to keep the player, which suggests a contract offer could be in the offing.

‘Paul Dummett is someone we want to keep’

"I really, really like Paul,” Howe said, speaking ahead of the Crystal Palace game at St James’ Park.

“Behind the scenes he’s had a consistent period where he’s trained, which I think is what he needed because he’s had various injuries before I came to the football club.

“He is a leader within the group, although not maybe the most vocal, but certainly in terms of being a role model for everyone given his history here, how long he’s been here and his journey through.

“He has a huge amount of respect internally from players for how he conducts himself. But he’s a very good player on top of that as well.

“Certainly, he’s someone we want to keep at the club."

Paul Dummett’s Newcastle career so far

Dummett joined his boyhood club aged nine. He progressed up the youth ranks, enjoying senior loans at Gateshead and St Mirren before making his Magpies debut in January 2013 in a FA Cup defeat to Brighton.

Nine years on, the defender has made over 200 appearances for Newcastle - his most recent being the 1-0 victory against Aston Villa in February where he was introduced as a second-half substitute.