Elliot set to start year as fourth choice
IT WAS a wail from the heart in the aftermath of a rare away-day humiliation.
“Welcome back Salomon Rondon,” I headed my Friday column in the belief that a recall was certain, “your club needs you!”
And didn’t he respond like the warrior he is? Not only did Rondon snatch his fifth Premier League goal of the season at Watford, but played throughout like a mixture of Desperate Dan and the Incredible Hulk.
His 29th-minute header ought to have produced a precious 1-0 Newcastle away victory just as his goal had in his last away match against Huddersfield, but shoddy defending with only eight minutes left on the clock threw away two hard-earned points.
Indeed, United’s world caved in because, while we were trying to recover from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s dagger thrust, news came through that Aleksandar Mitrovic of all people had scored the winner for Fulham in injury time against Huddersfield and Cardiff had produced a 1-0 scoreline at Leicester.
Thus the table had tightened beneath the Mags, with a tough January ahead. However, Rondon’s worth to United’s cause was never more emphasised than at Vicarage Road.
He was “rested” at Anfield, leaving United toothless and inevitably goalless – his replacement Joselu missed the easiest of headers early on at 0-0, a chance which would have been meat and drink for the Venezulean.
But upon his return in Hertfordshire, Mr Muscle terrorised fragile defenders, netting no less than three times. One of those which didn’t count was a sublime finish, only for Rondon to be flagged fractionally offside.
United’s legit goal was the result of three players doing perfectly what they are paid to do.
First, Christian Atsu ran away from Will Hughes, which is what he should do to defenders more often given his fiery pace. Atsu then fed Matt Ritchie, who has a great assist record, and his sumptuous cross saw Rondon rise between Watford’s two central defenders to power a header into the rigging.
We’ve said for some time that, if Rondon is fed quality crosses, he’ll do the rest – and here was the evidence.
I, like most Geordies, was frustrated and exasperated early season when the on-loan striker went missing due to recurring injuries but, my, he has blossomed of late.
Rondon now has five goals and an assist in his past eight appearances since November 10, his strikes helping deliver eight points from four matches.
Mitrovic may have been the game winner on the day but I would rather have a battler like Rondon leading my line in a relegation fight.
However, in the end the Magpies had to settle for their most regular away result – a fifth draw on foreign grass.
As early as the 54th minute Watford had sent on their skipper and centre-forward Troy Deeney in an effort to rescue a one-goal deficit, but it was Doucoure, who was pushed on at the same time, who drifted unmarked into United’s penalty area inside the last 10 minutes to punish the visitors with a powerful header of his own.
Of course a case can be made of “if only”, but at least after the four-goal thrashing at Liverpool this was more like United’s other away-day performances this season.
Benitez’s side were organised, compact, soaking things up like a sponge, and quick on the counter.
Away the lads! It’s at SJP that problems arise.
We can only hope 2019 brings a change of fortune when Manchester United drop anchor on Wednesday night. ROB Elliot has been told he will start 2019 as Newcastle United’s fourth choice goalkeeper after Rafa Benitez admitted publicly he was ready to move him on.
Benitez took the unusual step of declaring Elliot’s availability in public at his pre-game Press conference ahead of the trip to Watford at the weekend.
And while Elliot – who is fully fit and in training at Benton – would like to stay and fight for his place, Benitez is prepared to hand Freddie Woodman a chance in the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers after the youngster grew frustrated on Tyneside.
Woodman still wants to go out on loan but, with Karl Darlow currently injured, and likely to be out of contention for the cup tie, Benitez regards him as the number two at the club right now.
Woodman has had the nod over Elliot seven times in the last month during Darlow’s spell on the sidelines with an elbow injury.
Martin Dubravka is pretty much an automatic choice these days at United, which has left Darlow fighting for his place and Elliot fighting for his future.
Darlow is wanted by Leeds on loan but, as we previously reported, that is a non-starter in the eyes of Benitez and his backroom team.
Woodman has a clutch of EFL clubs on his trail but, if Elliot is sold, he could have to stay on Tyneside.
Elliot’s current contract expires in 2020 and Newcastle are prepared to listen to cash offers.
Benitez said: “The only one (goalkeeper) that is available in the window is Rob Elliot.”