Dummett has featured in the Magpies’ last six games, starting four of the last five and coming on at half-time in the other.
Santon has, allegedly, been suffering with a minor knee injury but we all know Pardew has come down hard on the former Inter Milan player because of some shocking half-hearted performances of late.
The injury is a smoke screen to hide the fact Santon has been told he is at the crossroads of his Newcastle career, and Pardew has had enough.
Alan Pardew: “We have been patient with Dummett, but he has got a natural left foot and he’s a powerful player, good in the air – he has got a lot of attributes.
“I just felt the team was getting a little bit predictable and a left-foot down that side suddenly opened up the pitch a little bit for us, and he has taken that opportunity."
Santon’s natural position is right-back but he has only started there in four of his 91 appearances. Newcastle’s first-choice there, Mathieu Debuchy, has arguably been the Premier League’s best right-back this season.