Newcastle United going all British would be a wonderful thing to see

Published on: 21 July 2016

Newcastle United have been busy reshaping their squad over the summer months, and by the end of the transfer window it will look completely different.


Gone is the large French contingent from the heady days of Alan Pardew and Europa League finishes, as the majority of that squad has left St. James' Park - and the ones who remain are likely to be sold if a bidder can be found.


There is a new ethos in town, and it involved spending more than Graham Carr and Pardew could have ever imagined. Spanish manager Rafa Benitez has been given the key to the coffers, and he's using that new power to excellent effect.


Benitez has identified that he wants a strong, British core to run through the first team squad on Tyneside, and that's what this transfer window has been all out. Even though the top domestic talent comes with a bigger price tag, the former Liverpool boss hasn't been shy and has secured deals quickly and efficiently.


Among the more expensive buys of Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle, there has been some good haggling done to negotiate the £2.5m fee for Isaac Hayden as well as a £5.5m one for Blackburn Rovers defender Grant Hanley.


And now, for the first time in more than two decades, the Magpies are actually in a position to field an all British starting XI.


The XI might not an automatic first choice, but they are all made up of players who are in the first team squad, and it's not a million miles away from an outfit that might be thrown out for a cup tie or as a rotation option.


Lining up with a 4-3-2-1, with a defensive midfielder, two regular central midfielders, two wingers and a striker could be the following team: KarlDarlow, JamieSterry, JamaalLascelles, GrantHanley, PaulDummett, MattRitchie, JackColback, IsaacHayden, JonjoShelvey, RolandoAarons, DwightGayle.


It would show how far the team has come, and it would send a message that you can promote native players and still (hopefully) be successful in the highest levels of the game.


What would be even more ideal is if there were a few more academy graduates within that starting team, although Adam Armstrong could come in for Gayle, and Callum Roberts could come in on the right wing.


It might be an unrealistic dream, but there is no reason why each club shouldn't aim to have as many of their players come Britain as possible - and it's a romantic, exciting throwback that Newcastle are in a position to do so.

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