Benitez: Big centre back needs time to adapt to Premiership

FLORIAN Lejeune will take time to adapt to the Premier League – but Rafa Benitez is confident the Frenchman will offer something “different” to Newcastle United at centre-back in the long run.

The 26-year-old signed from Eibar for £8.8million and, after an impressive pre-season, was sidelined for two months with an ankle injury earlier in the campaign.

Since his return, Lejeune has started nine games in a row at the heart of the Magpies’ defence but, after initially impressing, has appeared to struggle in recent matches.

Benitez accepts patience will be needed as far as Lejeune is concerned while the Frenchman becomes accustomed to the pace and physicality of English football.

Yet the Spaniard is confident Lejeune’s ball-playing ability and aerial strength will offer the Magpies an alternative style at centreback when compared with Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Chancel Mbemba.

Benitez said of Lejeune ahead of this evening’s clash with Everton at St James’ Park: “I think every player coming from abroad to play here will need time to adapt.

“Obviously, a centre-back needs more time.

“When we were signing him, we were signing a player who technically is good, who can play on the ball, he can pass the ball and he was different to the players that we had.

“We have Lascelles and Clark, and he (Lejeune) is different and Mbemba is different because he is not as big.

“Lejeune is big, he is good in the air, he can pass the ball. He will need some RAFA Benitez does not believe the possession stakes will affect the outcome of tonight’s clash with Everton at St James’ Park.

The Magpies were content to let opponents have the ball earlier in the campaign when they were winning. Tonight they face an Everton side which had just 21% possession against Liverpool but still earned a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Everton may well let Newcastle wear themselves out at St James’ Park before striking late on.

Benitez told the Chronicle: “There is a perception we have to have possession. time to adapt and understand. The way they were playing in Eibar with the defensive line a little bit higher, sometimes they were playing offside. To manage this, to play offside or to drop off, and deal with the pace of Jamie Vardy or these things, it is a question of time. “For anyone coming from abroad to the Premier League, the adaptation is always difficult.”

“I will tell you now we were winning games without possession or less than the other teams.

“It really does depend on moments in a game.

“One corner or a penalty or a free-kick makes the difference in games even when you are defending all the time.

“We have seen Manchester City controlling games with 80% possession and winning 2-1 in the last minute because they create another chance or get a free-kick.

“It is important to understand it is not possession, but the quality of that possession. That is the key.

Captain Lascelles, meanwhile, was an unused substitute during the 3-2 defeat to Leicester City at the weekend.

However, Benitez believes his skipper is fit enough to start against the Toffees tonight after recovering from a month-long ankle lay-off.

“I think he is OK now. He is getting better so hopefully,” Benitez replied when asked if Lascelles was fit enough to start against Everton.

“It is not just a question of fitness, it is a question of character and personality - we need people on the pitch who can give something different.”

“Everton are a good team and to have 21% possession could be normal for most teams - but in the end they drew because they had one chance and they took it.”

Sam Allardyce is yet to lose since replacing Ronald Koeman as Everton manager and Benitez feels a difficult start to the season is now behind the Toffees.

He added: “They still have a good team with good players.

“Now they have a manager with experience.

“They will be in a good position at the end because their squad is a good one.”