Newcastle United: Four players make the Bleacher Report Top 100 list

Newcastle United have four players in Bleacher Report’s EPL 100 list heading into the fourth week of action.

Despite the club’s poor form in recent matches, Newcastle United have four representatives in the newest EPL 100 list that is published by Bleacher Report on a weekly basis. It is good to see players from the North East gaining recognition for their positive form, but did the right players make the list?

Some of Newcastle’s most notable and reliable players – Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie and Kenedy – failed to make the list. Before analyzing whether or not the analysts at Bleacher Report made the right selections, let us look at who made the list:

• Martin Dubravka
• DeAndre Yedlin
• Jonjo Shelvey
• Joselu

Martin Dubravka: Ranked #9 for Goalkeepers

Newcastle’s primary guardian between the posts broke into the top ten for the goalkeeper position this week. The Magpies have conceded a total of four goals from in three matches, but Dubravka is not at fault for those goals. Tottenham scored two goals from just a few feet away as a result of poor man-marking in the box, and Chelsea scored a penalty kick and forced an own goal.

The Slovakian international does deserve a spot in the top ten for his position. Dubravka has made some important saves for the Magpies and he helped Newcastle earn a clean sheet early in the season.

DeAndre Yedlin: Ranked #10 for Right-Backs

The speedy American has maintained his spot at number ten for the second consecutive week. Yedlin’s own goal this past weekend gifted Chelsea with three points at St. James’ Park, but the deflection off his foot was not his fault.

Yedlin has shown signs of prolonged rust from preseason, but he makes up for it with his remarkable pace on the wing. Yedlin has done well in intercepting passes and leading counter-attacks from the back. His absence was definitely felt on the road against Cardiff City and Rafa Benitez will hope that Yedlin remains healthy going forward.

Jonjo Shelvey: Ranked #18 for Central Midfielders

Newcastle best passer has maintained his spot on the list for best central midfielders at number 18. Shelvey has been stellar in his first two matches for Newcastle with 112 passes and 17 accurate long balls to the front-line.

Shelvey is undoubtedly the Magpies’ most reliable and consistent midfielder. Chelsea benefited from Shelvey’s absence last weekend and that goes to show how important he is for the Magpies. In a recent interview for the media, Benitez claimed that Shelvey will likely sit out against Manchester City due to injury, an absence which will likely temporarily drop him from the list.

Joselu: Ranked #10 for Strikers

Joselu broke into the top ten list for Premier League strikers this week. This is a shocking selection by Bleacher Report due to the fact that Joselu has never really enjoyed good form at Newcastle. This season, however, Joselu seems to have turned things around.

Last season, the Spaniard only scored a mere four goals, but this season he has already scored two goals in three matches. Salomon Rondon is expected to become the primary scoring option for the Magpies up top, but for now it is Joselu filling up the stat sheet.