Rondon calls on team-mates to the good service
IN-FORM STRIKER DESPERATE FOR MORE CHANCES
SALOMON Rondon’s confiddence is high and he is hoping it stays that way – providing he continues to get good service from his Newcastle United team-mates. The on-loan West Bromwich Albion striker netted his fourth Newcastle goal during the 1-1 draw with Everton and emerged through the interview mixed zone with a beaming smile at Goodison Park. Rondon admits his confidence is flowing at the moment – and that he is desperate for more chances like the one presented to him by Jacob Murphy on Wednesday night.
The South American star lit up St James’ Park with two goals last month and is hopeful of repeating that feat if those around him deliver the goods. When asked if he is a player who thrives off great service, the Venezuela international said:
“Yes, as a striker you
Away from home you need to be picking up results like this Salomon Rondon
want service like that. I got it at Everton and got it against Bournemouth.
“However, we have to keep working as a team.
“If I don’t score it is not important if we have won the game.
“If I can hold the ball up or play in other team-mates that is fine.” Rondon is trying to win a permanent move to St James’ Park and has been told to earn a deal through good performances, with no clause in place in his current contract.
A £16.5m deal fell through last summer because Newcastle refused to pay a clause which has now expired - but he will still have another year left on his deal if he returns to West Bromwich Albion in
May – which could lead to a fee if United want to buy him.
For now, Rondon is focused on putting himself in a position where United want to pay for him.
The former Malaga star added: “It is important to score again for confidence. The most important thing is the team, though.
“We took on an Everton team full of big names and big players but we showed the spirit to get a result.
“Now we must continue to show that spirit and keep on fighting.
“We lost against West Ham and we were really disappointed about that.
“However, we had another opportunity to get something and we took it at Everton.
“There is another chance to get a win this Sunday, so we are working towards that now.”
Newcastle have now lost just once in six matches and are in a similar position to 12 months ago in the Premier League.
With Wolverhampton Wanderers next up at St James’ Park, Rondon says his team-mates cannot let their form slip again.
The 29-year-old added: “Everton was a good point for us.
“Away from home you need to be picking up results like this. The confidence is now going up. Against Wolves and Huddersfield we will need to do the same type of thing.
“At home, getting three points is massive for us if we want to keep climbing the table.” Wolves go into the game on the back of a fantastic 2-1 win over Chelsea and Rondon warned: “This will be a tough test but if we stick together we can get a result.”
Wanderers’ boss Nuno Espirito Santo has warned his team to keep their feet on the ground, saying: “It is a question of working, organising, knowing you have good moments, bad moments.
“You have to realise what you have been through, the process of building the team, building the players – no questions, no doubts.
“The result means we have won the game, not that our problems are solved. It means tomorrow we have to work and stick to these standards and maintain them.”