CAN MUTO SHINE?
Pre-season provides a chance to impress
STEVE Bruce has suggested Yoshinori Muto could be given another chance to impress in preseason.
The Japanese international striker is thought to be unhappy at the lack of opportunities at Newcastle United this season.
After recovering from injury, Muto (pictured right) was hoping for a chance after lockdown.
The former Mainz forward netted in the 3-2 mid-season friendly victory over Middlesbrough back in June.
However, he has since been afforded just six minutes since – at the end of the 5-0 mauling at Manchester City.
Head coach Bruce was asked what Muto’s situation was after he was an unused substitute in the dire 0-0 draw at Brighton.
The striker was overlooked as Andy Carroll and Joelinton were thrown on to attempt to find a breakthrough.
Bruce said: “Look, I will sit down with Muto.
“He has not had the best of times under me gamewise.
“He is a great pro, trains well, so I have no problem with him.
“It is just we have forward players at the minute who are ahead of him.”
Muto has started just seven Premier League games since his £9.5million move from the Bundesliga.
He is also costing Newcastle around £50,000 per week. Meanwhile, Brighton boss Graham Potter says the Seagulls were wary of Newcastle United’s ‘counter-attack’ threat on Monday night because
Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are ‘dangerous’ players if you lose the ball. The Seagulls secured their Premier League status for another season following the stalemate against the Magpies at the AMEX Stadium.
Newcastle were playing their ninth game in all competitions since football restarted behind closed doors last month and the visitors only managed one shot on target during an uneventful 90 minutes.
As they did in the reverse fixture at St James’ Park in September, Brighton dominated possession but Potter’s side was certainly conscious of the pace and threat the Magpies usually carry on the counter.
The Brighton boss said after the game. “I cannot say there were too many clear-cut chances to be fair.
“It was a game which lacked quality.
“Newcastle came with a back five and defended deep and looking at the counter-attacking players they have – Almiron and Saint-Maximin – they are dangerous if you lose the ball so there is a little bit of that probably in our play, but we tried. “We lacked a bit of quality in the final third.”
Muto is a great pro. I have no problem with him, it is just we have forward players who are ahead of him
Steve Bruce