Rondon takes his chance to prove worth to boss and fans

SAL ALL SMILES AFTER HIS STRIKE SEES OFF TERRIERS

ONE chance, one moment and one very well-taken finish - that was the story of Salomon Rondon’s afternoon against Huddersfield Town.

The Venezuela striker’s arrival as a late-August loan deal did not capture the imagination of most when the club spluttered their way to a temporary arrangement in the summer.

Yet Rafa Benitez insisted the exMalaga star was handed a chance on loan from West Bromwich Albion and slowly but surely he is delivering the goods.

Rondon may be down the pecking order in the Premier League’s top scorer chart but his four top-flight goals for United are proving to be priceless.

Not least his 55th-minute strike against the Terriers which paved the way for a much-needed pre-Christmas win in West Yorkshire on Saturday.

Rondon had been Newcastle’s first line of defence for long periods at the John Smith’s Stadium as he chased lost causes and tried to put David Wagner’s back three under intense pressure.

During his 80 minutes on the field he was afforded just 33 touches and one shot at goal.

Yet Rondon did not turn down the opportunity to be the match winner and provided the crucial and matchdefining moment for Benitez.

Rondon’s long afternoon was extended after the game as the Premier League’s doping squad selected him for a post-game drug test.

It meant Rondon was last on the bus but he eventually emerged smiling.

He said: “We are really happy, last week we lost at home and this one was a difficult game.

“It was a physical game but we collected the three points and that was most important for the team.

“It was important for the supporters and Newcastle United. “Huddersfield were three points behind us in the table and that is now six points but we have to keep doing well.

“We have to keep doing things the same way. “Next week we have a good game against Fulham at home and we have to win.” Reflecting on the hard-fought win against a Huddersfield team that had a whopping 74 per cent of the ball, Rondon added: “They pressed high and we tried to do what we do. “We did that and we got the three

It was a physical game but we collected three points and that was most important for the team Salomon Rondon

points. We have to work to create chances, today we got one and we had to score it.

“The most important thing is our confidence going up.”

Rondon will be looking to add another goal and three points on the board against Fulham.

His goals so far have helped win seven of Newcastle’s precious 16-point tally - not bad for a man who arrived through the back door as a low key loan signing.

Rondon, though, stayed humble, saying: “I feel confident.

“I am thankful for my team-mates, the staff, the supporters. I try to do my job and score more goals.

“We have to win our game at home. We have to get three points. If you want to stay up, three points at home is massive for any team.”