Pulis happy to let star striker play for his country
TONY Pulis would never dream of questioning Salomon Rondon’s international obligations with Venezuela – because he knows how patriotic his star striker is!
Rondon’s injury-time equaliser at Stoke City on Saturday was his third goal of the season – a tally he did not reach until October 31 last season.
The 27-year-old is likely to lead the line again at Sunderland this weekend before jetting off to South America for testing World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil.
West Bromwich Albion boss Pulis would prefer it if his talisman up top was not competing around the world during every international break, but he’s not about to ask him to stop.
“There’s no discussions there,” he said. “He’s very passionate about his country and rightly so.”
Pulis might accept Rondon’s continental commitments, but he still worries.
“He’s a very patriotic lad but you just get a little bit concerned while he’s away,” he said. “Just the travel and the climate and everything else. I worry about everything – so it’s normal stuff for me.
“The one disadvantage is going back to South America.
“But we knew that when signed him. He’s a smashing him we lad and very well liked in the dressing room.”
Rondon already appears to be developing an understanding with Nacer Chadli, who played in the No.10 role at the Bet365 Stadium.
“Chadli at times I thought was outstanding on Saturday,” Pulis added. “We’re hoping those have that quality we need.”
Meanwhile, Claudio Yacob reckons Rondon’s equaliser carried a dual benefit for Albion.
He believes the goal will give his team-mate a confidence boost that should pay dividends for the rest of the players.
“When he scores he gets a lot of confidence so it’s important for the team he’s happy,” said Yacob of his fellow South American. “If he scores it’s massive for the team. He’s very important. But the most important thing is to get the three points.
“This is what we tried on Saturday, but one point is massive for us, too.”
As Spanish speakers, Rondon and Yacob have struck up a close friendship since the striker joined from Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in August 2015.
And the pair are now using their multilingual skills to help integrate French-speaking duo Chadli and Allan Nyom.
“We try to help each other,” the Argentine said. “I think the team is important, both on the pitch and off it. We try to get the team as a group.” two