Eddie Howe promised to take his time with summer signing Sven Botman, slowly bedding him in to this Newcastle United side which has looked pretty sturdy at the back in recent months.
That plan was unexpectedly thrown out the window this weekend as the Dutchman partnered Fabian Schar in the heart of the defence against Brighton. Botman looked as calm as he has all pre-season and all last season with Lille, easily repaying the faith Howe had in him to play him from the outset.
Matt Targett's dead leg forced him out of the Brighton clash, with Dan Burn moving over to left-back to cover. This now begs the questions what Howe does when the former Aston Villa man returns to fitness?
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Botman will fancy his chances of starting against Manchester City next weekend after Saturday's performance, especially if Howe opts for five at the back. However, even if the Magpies boss sticks with four defenders, the youngster has shown he is ready to handle Premier League attackers.
Burn was arguably the most impressive defender of the lot in the Brighton stalemate, putting his body on the line to keep his former team-mates at bay. The 6ft 5 giant looked at home playing as a left-back, a role he thrived in while playing on the south coast.
Then there is Targett. He hasn't put a foot wrong since arriving in January and looked as comfortable as ever in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend. The full-back will be expected to slot back in where he left off as soon as back to full fitness.
It is a selection headache for Howe, who will ultimately have to disappoint a player who deserves a spot in the starting XI. It is a dilemma Newcastle have not had to deal with in recent years.
