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Dummett On Standby For First Start
Written by Newcastle Utd
Paul Dummett could make his first Barclays Premier League start against West Ham after Alan Pardew admitted he had a "good chance" of facing West Ham
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Young defender Paul Dummett is on standby for his full Barclays Premier League debut after his impressive showing against Manchester City on Monday.
The ex-Kenton School pupil made his league bow as a substitute at the Etihad Stadium following Steven Taylor's red card, and could now come in against West Ham United at the weekend.
With Taylor now missing for the next three games as he begins his suspension on Saturday, Alan Pardew must decide whether to promote the 21-year-old left-back to his starting line-up or play Davide Santon, who missed the opening game through injury.
Speaking to nufcTV this week, Pardew - who is without Jonas Gutierrez and has doubts over Cheick Tiote's fitness - admitted: "Dummett did terrific when he came on and he's got a good chance of playing."
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa started at full-back against City but is likely to move into the middle, as he did in the second half at the Etihad, and with Massadio Haidara injured Pardew faces a straight choice between Italian ace Santon and Dummett.
Santon hasn't played since he was replaced by Dummett at half-time of United's pre-season friendly against Braga but has trained this week and, also speaking to the Club's online channel, Wales under-21 international Dummett said: "Hopefully I'm involved.
"You'll have to ask the manager that but hopefully I'll be involved, maybe on the bench but I'll just take each game as it comes and try and do my best in every game for this Club. Hopefully the manager sees that and picks me in the squad."
Dummett has been with Newcastle since the age of nine and, having won the Scottish League Cup while on loan at St. Mirren last season, admits that playing in the top flight for his boyhood team is a dream come true.
"I've got mates who come to home and away games every week," he said. "They're loyal Geordie fans and that's what everyone does.
"If I wasn't playing for the Club I'd probably be going to games and supporting the team like I have done last season, the season before - I've always gone to games.
"So for me to play in the Premier League is something special."
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