Sean Steur 26-minute statement proves Matthias Jaissle wrong at Newcastle United - he must fix this
Newcastle United supporters are calling for Sean Steur to start after his impressive cameo against Everton.
It took just 26 minutes of game time for Sean Steur to vindicate the Newcastle United fans who desperately want him in the team. While the Magpies lost 1-0 to Everton - triggering a chorus of boos inside St James’ Park - the Dutchman emerged as the one silver lining on Monday night.
Newcastle were sluggish, devoid of attacking ideas and unlikely to equalise even if they had played for another 90 minutes. But when Steur arrived, they had a glimmer of hope.
He was positive, always looking to get on the ball and make something happen irrespective of the unnerving energy transmitted from the crowd. It was not just the eye test either - the stats back that up.
Sean Steur stats vs Everton
Sky Sports displayed a graphic as the clock ticked into stoppage time that showed Steur had completed the most passes in the final third out of both sides. He had only been on the pitch for just over 20 minutes.
The 18-year-old also boasted the highest pass completion percentage (97 per cent) from those who made over nine passes. For context, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who ran the show during the opening 50 minutes, registered only nine passes more (84 per cent completion).
The calls for Jaissle to start Steur were loud before Newcastle’s latest surrender job. Ahead of a trip to Fulham this weekend, the German simply has nowhere else to go. Steur has to play.
Jaissle’s argument has been that Steur and Nico Gonzalez are fighting for the same position. But even he must recognise that his system is not working.
Newcastle lack bodies in midfield and are playing with a No.10 despite not having one in their ranks. Bringing Steur in - alongside Gonzalez - to provide balance in the engine room is a no-brainer.
Matthias Jaissle on Sean Steur
"He (Steur) is always in my thinking, always in my thoughts,” Jaissle told reporters after the Everton defeat. “Not only now, after that match. He is doing a good job, definitely. We see that."