According to the Shields Gazette’s Miles Starforth, Salomon Rondon is now pushing to be fit for next weekend’s crucial clash with Brighton at St James’ Park – with him doing extra work behind the scenes to be back in time.
The big Venezuelan hasn’t featured since last month’s draw away at Crystal Palace, with him forced off at half time after struggling to shake off a thigh problem.
Benitez confirmed soon after that he would be facing at least a ‘few weeks’ out, but it looks like the international break may have came at the perfect time for him, with him spotted doing extra fitness work at the clubs training ground in a bid to be back next weekend:
Time out… but I never stop!
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Pausa obligada, ¡pero el trabajo nunca para! #GladiatorRELOADING ? pic.twitter.com/LoeEgM06vw— Salomón Rondón (@salorondon23) October 9, 2018
Considering how Muto played at Man Utd, you’d expect him to start once again, however Rondon’s return could give him a healthy selection headache.
It looks to me like Muto and Rondon could work very well together. Rondon has the power and ability to hold up the ball, while Muto showed great movement and pace up top, so I’d be very tempted to play Yoshi just off him in place of Perez.
Either way, let’s hope Rondon can be back in time. We’ve not seen enough of him so far but I’m confident that he’ll become a very useful player for us once fully fit.
If you played three defender and used Kenedy and Yedlin as wing backs, then you keep Perez as well as introduce both Rondon and Muto. When they are all fit, you have options, even if they aren’t all top shelf.
Peter(Quote)