Malick Thiaw is ready to step into a leadership role at Newcastle United under Matthias Jaissle after the departure of several high-profile players over the summer. That is the view of former Magpies midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who believes Thiaw should have featured more for Germany during the summer's World Cup.
Thiaw's rise at Newcastle
Thiaw joined Newcastle in a £35million deal from AC Milan last summer and quickly became a key player on Tyneside, featuring more than any other United player last season. With only Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy remaining from last season's six-man leadership group, there has been a void for players to step up in leadership roles.
Burn has been named club captain, with Joelinton vice-captain. Fabian Schar has always been seen as a leader, while the likes of Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes are said to have become prominent voices on the training ground.
Captaincy opportunities
Thiaw captained Newcastle in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the absence of Burn and Joelinton through injury, having also led them in the pre-season win over Valencia and defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. Hamann believes Thiaw will 'relish' the extra responsibility under Jaissle this season.
"I think Malick Thiaw should have featured more for Germany in the World Cup as well," Hamann told Chronicle Live via Andy's Bet Club. "He’s a player who relishes that extra responsibility, especially with two or three key players having left the club.
"It's always an opportunity when influential players move on for somebody else to step in and take on that role. I think he's ready for that step, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him feature prominently, maybe even as captain of Newcastle.
"If I were to do a fantasy team, I'm pretty sure that he'd be one of them who's in my defence."
