After seeing them train for the first time this week, it hasn’t taken long for Jamaal Lascelles to be left impressed by new signings Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto.
The skipper has revealed that the ‘powerful’ Rondon has already been ‘really good’ in training, also describing Muto to be a ‘very energetic’ player who ‘works hard’.
Lascelles also praised midfield new boy Ki Sung-Yeung, describing the South Korean to be ‘excellent on the ball’ and a ‘very tidy player’, so it seems like several of Rafa’s summer signings have not taken long to impress the skipper.
Starting with Rondon – a player he describes as ‘one of the toughest strikers’ he’s played against – here’s what he’s had to say to the club’s official website:
“Rondón’s a very good signing – a very powerful player, fast, strong.
“I didn’t play against West Brom away but when we played them at home, in terms of physicality, he’s probably one of the toughest strikers I’ve played against.
“He’s strong, he can run in behind, he can win headers and he works hard for the team. He’s experienced in the Premier League so I think that’s going to give us a massive boost and since he’s been training with us he’s looked really good.
The last line in particular bodes very well for his involvement ahead of Saturday’s game, with Rondon sounding like he’s very much in contention to start against Spurs if he’s already impressing in training.
Then to Muto and Ki, and it sounds like Lascelles has also been impressed by both:
“Mutō looks very energetic and works hard, and we’ve all played against Ki and technically he’s excellent on the ball, a very tidy player, and I think he’ll work really well in that midfield.
“So we’ve made some good signings and I think it won’t take long for us to really gel together and carry on with the same team chemistry that we had last year.”
? Take a look behind the scenes at today's training session, as @salorondon23 and Yoshinori Mutō prepared for Saturday's game against @SpursOfficial and @nobbysolanouk4 paid a visit to United's Benton base. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/7IHCSNCh0H
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 8, 2018
With the prospect of Joselu starting against Spurs being a slightly underwhelming one, let’s hope we Rondon and Muto are fit enough to play some part.
It sounds like they might be based on their performances in training so far!
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