Despite being seen as one of our top youngsters just a few years ago, Rolando Aarons’ career at Newcastle United is hanging in the balance.
Rafa rarely handed him a chance to impress over pre-season and he initially failed to secure a place in his official Premier League squad as a result, seeing him secure a bizarre loan move to Czech side Slovan Liberec in the end.
Injuries have so often set him back over the last few seasons, with him featuring just 10 times over the last two seasons, however he’s also been guilty of not taking his chance when he’s been handed it.
Aside from an impressive goal and assist in a League Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest last year, he’s tended made little to no impact – with his uneventful loan move to Verona perhaps speaking volumes.
He joined the Serie A strugglers on deadline day in January, but it was a bit of a disaster in truth. He started just six games in just under six months and failed to deliver a single goal or assist, with him being on the winning side just once when he started.
Murphy and Atsu – the two wingers Rafa has in reserve behind Ritchie and Kenedy – are hardly pulling up any trees, so Aarons may just get himself back in contention if he can shine out on loan in the Czech league, but he really is on borrowed time it seems.
He’s featured for Slovan Liberec four times so far in their league season and got his first goal recently, albeit in a friendly against FK Varnsdorf yesterday:
Rolando Aarons (@RolandoAarons) was on the scoresheet today in 2-1 win for Slovan Liberac over FK Varnsdorf in a friendly. Here's his goal #englishabroad pic.twitter.com/1VQrC6C3tG
— English Players Abroad (@EnglishAbroad1) October 12, 2018
If he can’t make an impact in that division, I can’t see him having a future at St James’ Park – at least no under Benitez.
He’s younger than Kenedy and turns 23 next month, so this feels like his final chance to impress.
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That ships sailed I reckon. Rafa seems to have made his mind up, and whilst the wide areas seem up for grabs – I reckon he’s pi$$ed on his chips.
I’m not overly bothered like coz there’s Roberts and Victor Fernandez in the reserves who both look like they could step up.
But Rafa has to start introducing the youngesters more imo. Sterry and Longstaff look like 2 who could come through if he has the courage to play them.
Sharpy17(Quote)