Benitez calls on fans to give Perez a break
RAFA BENITEZ wants Newcastle supporters to lay off goal-shy forward Ayoze Perez.
Benitez’s fellow Spaniard has come under fire this season for his lack of goals, having finished the Toon’s top scorer last term.
He was sarcastically cheered off the pitch by a section of the crowd after missing several chances during the home defeat by West Ham two weeks ago.
Perez responded by cupping his hands to his ears after finding the net against Wolves last Saturday – only his second goal of the campaign.
Benitez said: “At that moment, he was not very happy.
“The fans, when they talk about strikers, remember Alan Shearer and all his goals. But in a team that cannot create as many chances, they have to work hard and Ayoze is working hard for the team.” Today the Magpies visit a Huddersfield side whose manager David Wagner has told Australia that Aaron Mooy looks like playing no part in next month’s Asia Cup because of a medial ligament injury.
Wagner is willing to let Australia seek a second opinion, but is adamant Mooy will be out until February.
Wagner said: “My medical department say he will be out for eight weeks unfortunately. This means for them he misses more or less the whole Asia Cup.”