Barnes picks a surprising Newcastle player in his non-top six starting XI

Premier League legend John Barnes selected a starting lineup of players outside top-six clubs and included a Newcastle United player.

With no soccer in England right now, content regarding the Premier League has relied on a lot of rankings and lists from pundits. Former Liverpool legend and Newcastle United winger John Barnes selected a starting lineup of Premier League players that aren’t a part of the big-six clubs. He picked a Newcastle United player, but it’s not one that you might expect.

In his hypothetical central defense, he picked NUFC skipper Jamaal Lascelles. Explaining the selection to Bonus Code Bets, Barnes said, “Another quick, strong defender, who is a brilliant leader for Newcastle, being their club captain. Purely because of his strength and his height, he’d be able to defend.”

While he’s a quality player, Lascelles has been inconsistent this season and often overshadowed by teammates like Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark, and Fabian Schar. His leadership is undeniable, but does that outweigh his performances on the pitch?

Martin Dubravka may be the best choice from the current Newcastle roster. Jordan Pickford was the pick from Barnes and the comparison between the keepers is an interesting one. Pickford has three more clean sheets and one less error leading to goals, but he’s allowed five more goals while making 42 fewer saves.

Outside of central defense and goalkeeping, Newcastle’s wingers Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are definitely exciting options. But, neither of them match the production of the players that Barnes selected. Another option would be Jonjo Shelvey in the central midfield. He is well-renowned for his unique long passing ability and this season, he has five goals to lead the club.