New central role for United star Milner?
Jul 22 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
NEWCASTLE manager Kevin Keegan has hinted that James Milner may be used in a central midfield berth next season after praising his impact in that role in United’s pre-season curtain raiser at Hartlepool.
As Keegan continues his efforts to bolster Newcastle’s threadbare resources with four “quality signings” before the start of the season, he is ready to increase his options in one of his problem areas by shifting Milner into the middle.
It was a position that the former England Under-21 winger filled with some aplomb in the victory on Saturday, and while much stiffer tests would await Milner in that role in the Premier League it is a positional change that both the player and his manager have discussed in the run-up to the new season.
Keegan believes Milner’s phenomenal work-rate and fitness level – which the manager rates as among the best that he has encountered in his managerial career – makes him an ideal foil for a holding player like Nicky Butt.
“I know James can play on the right but he’s got so much energy – he’s the fittest player at this football club and one of the fittest football players I’ve ever seen when I played or since I’ve been in management,” said Keegan.
“But if you’re out wide you have to wait for the ball to come to you whereas in the centre you have a bit more chance to go and find it.
“I thought he did well at Hartlepool.”
Milner’s future has been the subject of speculation over most of the close season, with long-term admirers Aston Villa and Liverpool both keen to lure him away from St James’s Park.
But with the winger content to remain on Tyneside, and Keegan insistent that the club don’t let one of their most committed and hard-working professionals depart, he is now almost certain to start the season in the black-and-white of United.
However, it appears that finding a niche for Milner in Newcastle’s starting line-up won’t be quite as easy as keeping him.
The 22-year-old lost his place when Keegan tried out a 4-3-3 formation at the end of last season, and with new signing Jonas Gutierrez primed for a right-wing role when the campaign kicks off the positional experiment makes sense.
But while sound tactical reasons lie behind the decision to shift Milner into a more central role, it is also a demonstration of the paucity of United’s resources in the run-up to the Premier League season. With Joey Barton’s future far from certain, United enter the new season with only Nicky Butt, Geremi and new signing Danny Guthrie as contenders for two central midfield places in a 4-4-2 formation.
It is an area that Keegan may strengthen – along with central defence and the left-back slot – but converting Milner would be a ready-made solution and give the player a much-needed niche.
Keegan is looking for at least four more additions to his threadbare squad before United kick off their Premier League campaign on August 16, but it has been a frustrating summer of recruitment so far.
Newcastle have received plenty of knock-backs as they look to make the sort of additions that will give them a realistic shot at Uefa Cup qualification next season, and it appears that they will get little joy if they return to Blackburn Rovers with another offer for left-back Stephen Warnock this week.
United’s interest in the England defender remains, but the player has indicated that he’s only interested in life under new manager Paul Ince at Ewood Park.
“We are a club that is moving forward and we are all looking forward to the new era under the new manager,” said Warnock.
