Rondon return vital for clash in Hornets’ nest

MAGPIES NEED TO EXPEL WOES OF ANFIELD AND GET POINTS AHEAD OF TOP-SIX TESTS

WELCOME back Salomon Rondon, your club needs you!

When you possess the second worst goalscoring record in the Premier League, then you require your top scorer in the trenches, however meagre the set of figures.

United have scored but 14 times all season – only Huddersfield have a worse return with 12 – and Rondon will surely return at Watford doing so complete with a goals promise.

He may have netted only four times in the league during a stopstart campaign for him, but he’s still United’s main goal threat and has promised Rafa Benitez that he is aiming to enjoy his best ever top-flight return.

Mind you, he only has to get into double figures – his best stands at nine from the 2015-16 season.

Just to emphasise that Rondon isn’t Alan Shearer but a player who relies more on good service, he laboured like the rest in a 0-0 draw with Fulham last time United featured at home.

It’s been a bah-humbug Christmas so far with two points sacrificed in a soulless, goalless draw with the Cottagers followed by a much more predictable trouncing by 4-0 at Liverpool.

In reality it would have taken more than Rondon to halt the unbeaten leaders. Winston Churchill, Anthony Joshua, Superman, King Canute, and the Incredible Hulk would have had their combined powers sorely tested.

Newcastle had lost only twice away and both times by a single goal margin in Manchester against City and United, but this Mersey side currently resides on another planet.

Maybe two Liverpool European Cup-winning legends were in the Anfield crowd to witness execution but it was also three Magpies bignames with Shearer joining Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish. Big Al and two of his managers. How the black-and-white picture has changed since their stints. United must lift their spirits and go for points at Watford because a rejuvenated Man U, having cast off the Jacob Marley chains imposed by the departed Jose Mourinho, see in 2019 at St James’ Park – followed by Chelsea away.

We need Rondon back, Jonjo Shelvey fit ASAP especially considering Ki Sungyueng’s departure, Matt Ritchie to rediscover his top form, Jamaal Lascelles to quickly adapt to three central defenders, and wingers who can miss the first defender when crossing the ball. It’s a big ask and hoping for January transfer activity is perhaps the biggest ask of all. One of the only similarities between Watford and Newcastle this term is that both have lost more at home than away, considerably so in United’s case – but the Mags did at least beat the Hornets 1-0 at home. Let us hope normal service is resumed by both clubs at 3pm Saturday. We desperately need it for United to end the year on a high.