Daily Mirror journalist Simon Bird has described Steve Bruce's decision to start Danny Rose in Newcastle United's 4-0 defeat to Arsenal as "massive".

Rose, who joined the Magpies on loan from Tottenham last month, came in for Matt Ritchie in the left wing-back position, and Bird believes it was quite the call Bruce made given Ritchie's importance to the side. Speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast (19/02/2020), he said: "That's a massive call by Steve Bruce and obviously you bring Danny Rose in and you would think Steve Bruce is making promises.

Bird later went on to say that starting Rose means making the difficult decision of leaving out Ritchie before lauding the 30-year-old. "When he's on the pitch and we can see him on the left side from the press box in the first half, usually he is yelling at everyone and organising and demanding better," the Daily Mirror journalist said.

With Newcastle's backline playing poor against Arsenal as a whole, conceding four goals in total, it is hard to make too many conclusions regarding Rose. Nevertheless, you can understand the endorsement for Ritchie in this left wing-back debate.

Averaging 1.6 crosses per game this season (via WhoScored), the highest average in the squad, and two key passes a match, Ritchie has proven to be a useful outlet down that left flank.

Newcastle fans, who should be starting at left wing-back, Rose or Ritchie? Comment below!