Newcastle continued their impressive start to the Premier League season with a 3-1 win over Burnley, with summer signing Callum Wilson netting a brace to make it four goals in four games in the league.
Magpies fans are used to despairing over a lack of activity in the transfer window, but the arrival of Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Jeff Hendricks and Jamal Lewis among others have fitted perfectly into a team now being tipped to challenge for European football.
But not only has Steve Bruce spent big this window when needed, he’s saved money too.
Newcastle are beset with injuries as Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Ciaran Clark and Matt Longstaff are sidelined.
But Bruce had no need to panic or to dive into the market for deputies, because of a utility player already in Newcastle’s ranks.
Emil Krafth put in an impressive display against Burnley in his first league start of the season, just a few days after a solid performance against Newport County in a different position.
It has taken the Swede a season to settle in to life in the Premier League, but while his contributions - like those of Federicio Fernandez - may often go under the radar, he has proven his worth so far this term.
Against Newport County in the Carabao Cup, Krafth deputised for Lascelles at centre-back while Manquillo played on the right.
Against Burnley, Manquillo – who had played twice that week already – was rested, while Krafth stepped in on the right.
His ability to play multiple positions is invaluable to Bruce, but what makes him more special is his ability to attack or sit deep and disciplined depending on what is asked of him.
Against Newport County, Krafth was seen organising the defence from the back and helping to keep shape. Against Burnley, Krafth was just as comfortable with the freedom of a right-back to attack and overlap down the flanks.
Last week, against Spurs, Bruce preferred Manquillo as part of a back five that soaked up pressure for 90 minutes, but the availability of Krafth means the manager has the freedom to swap things around and play a more attacking formation seven days later while resting key players.
In a week of three matches, Bruce took four points from a possible six and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. He was only able to set up the way he did in each match precisely because of Krafth, his talents, and what he offers to the squad.
A more impulsive manager faced with an injury crisis may have brought one or two players in, but Bruce’s trust in Krafth to perform when asked - and in different positions - means the club have saved a few million this summer.
