Benitez confident Muto will prove to be striking success
JAPAN ACE BACKED TO GET GOALS
RAFA Benitez has backed Yoshinori Muto to continue impressing for Newcastle United while Salomon Rondon is sidelined.
Venezuela international Rondon was Benitez’s first-choice striker target during the summer but the 29-year-old has missed the Magpies’ last two matches with a thigh problem.
Although Rondon is back in training and could return against Southampton next weekend, the season-long loan signing from West Bromwich Albion is unavailable for this afternoon’s crucial clash with Brighton at St James’ Park.
In Rondon’s absence, summer signing Muto – who joined from Mainz in a £9.5million deal back in August – grasped his opportunity, scoring and impressing during his full Premier League debut at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.
It appears no coincidence Muto has found his form, either, given his wife – who has recently given birth in Japan – is now moving across to the North East to join him, while the forward himself is progressing well with his English lessons, too.
The 26-year-old is now in line to be handed his full home debut against Brighton, Benitez considering which two of Muto, Joselu and Ayoze Perez to play together up front.
Although some fans have called for Benitez to continue with Muto and Perez together, given the pair both excelled at Old Trafford, Benitez recognises the Seagulls will sit deeper than Manchester United did two weeks – and that is why Joselu has come into the manager’s thoughts as a targetman option, too.
‘The good thing is he is more settled down. You can see it in training,” Benitez replied when asked if he was confident Muto has the ability to lead the line at St James’ Park.
“He, Joselu and Ayoze are giving us different options.
“I think he can play with another small player or a bigger player, I have different options.”
Having pursued Rondon all summer, Benitez has only been able to start the striker in three of Newcastle’s eight Premier League games so far due to injury.
Yet the Spaniard still expects Rondon to make a big impact for Newcastle – with the forward on course to return to the squad for the trip to St Mary’s next weekend.
“It has not really been too frustrating, because the first injury was when he was at West Brom and we could not control that, because he was not our player. He came here and then he needed to work a little bit on his fitness,” Benitez said of Rondon. “The second one was against Crystal Palace, when I think he wanted to impress.
“He said: ‘I am fine’ but you could see in the first half he was not right.
“Then we made a substitution - he wanted to continue but we could see he was not ready. “Sometimes players, when they want to do well they take the risk – and he took the risk.
“Now he is OK and he has been training this week and we have been pushing him with the fitness coach - but he has been training with the team.
“He is feeling better and I think he is in a good mood now. “Hopefully, if he is fine, next week we can see him with the team.”