The solution to Newcastle United's biggest issue has come quietly and under the radar

Emil Krafth was handed the unenvious task of replacing Kieran Trippier after the England international was injured in the clash with Aston Villa. With Javier Manquillo also picking up an injury, it was down to Krafth to step up, and while his performances may not be headline-grabbing, the Swede has certainly not let his side down.

The 27-year-old has had his critics at Newcastle, some of the criticism justified as he struggled to find his feet in the Premier League since his move from Amiens. There have been glimpses of a capable player within him but those performances have been rare, and it was fair to say that many supporters feared him deputising for Trippier.

However, fears over Krafth haven’t rang true and it’s testament to his character that he has risen to the challenge. The Swedish international looks more confident, stronger and fitter and while some feared he’d shrink at the task of replacing Trippier, he’s done the opposite.

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Many felt that - including this writer - that Manquillo would return to the XI once he recovered from his injury but Toon head coach Eddie Howe has chosen to stick with Krafth despite having the option of the Spaniard for the last two games. Yet Krafth has earned this chance and with United picking up seven points from the last three games in which he’s started, it’s not difficult to see why Howe has opted to remain unchanged.

But it is more than tradition from Howe not to change a side in good form, Krafth has quietly gone about improving his game and has proved himself to be a more than capable replacement. Looking back at the previous two games - the wins over Brighton and Brentford,