Rafa Benitez’s course of action this weekend will determine Lazaar future

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Newcastle United defender Achraf Lazaar will hope to finally be handed a chance this weekend as the club face Burnley in the Premier League.

As reported by Chronicle Live, Paul Dummett is an injury doubt for the game after pulling out of international duty early with a muscle problem.

Should he not make the clash with the Clarets, it would mean that Lazaar would be the only recognised left back in the squad.

When Dummett has not been available this season, Rafa Benitez has turned to either Kenedy or Ciaran Clark instead, with neither proving they are particularly good deputies.

Lazaar has to feel that this could be his chance, after spending the past year frozen out.

He hasn’t featured for the first team and was on the brink of joining Genoa in the summer, but the move fell through and he’s been playing for the U23s.

Benitez’s decision will be telling

What Benitez does at the weekend will let everyone know just how he views Lazaar.

If he’s brought in to the matchday squad for the first time in over a year, it will suggest that he feels the player still has something to offer.

He has been playing well for the U23s and has recently trained with the first-team again.

If Dummett doesn’t make the game and Benitez still doesn’t select Lazaar, then his Newcastle career is surely over and it’d be no surprise to see him sold in January.

It’d be the perfect chance for him to prove that he still has something to offer, but The Gazette believe his inclusion will be unlikely.