Worrying update emerges on Ki Sung-Yueng - Does this explain why he's totally disappeared?

According to The Chronicle, there's been 'whispers' around NUFC that Rafa Benitez is concerned about Ki Sung-Yueng's 'lack of mobility' - something which could explain the midfielder's real lack of game time since signing over the summer.

With Newcastle languishing in the relegation zone and still winless this season, attentions are already turning to the winter transfer window and how we can strengthen like last January to help us climb the table.

Chronicle reporter Chris Waugh has identified five key areas Rafa will be looking at (read the article HERE), and one area is central midfield - raising questions about the impact the South Korean summer signing has made.

Here is what The Chronicle say on the lack of game time of the South Korean captain;

"Then there is Ki Sung-yueng, who joined the Magpies on a free transfer as a replacement for Merino - yet the South Korean has barely featured this term, with whispers that the 29-year-old's lack of mobility has seen him fall down the pecking order."

Diame has seen his form dip this season and with Ki not in Rafa’s plans at present, we are certainly short.

He's not played since City away over a month ago and has regularly missed out on match day squads too - with him also being nowhere to be seen in some training sessions recently.

If a lack of mobility is true, is this another example of a Benitez signing that has quickly turned sour where his references seem to have failed him? Gamez, Lazaar and Sels were all Rafa buys as well, but they also appeared to go out of his plans quickly after arriving

It says something when a want-away Hayden gets in the squad ahead of an experienced international who's captain of his country but it is important to counter this with the fact that forcing a manager to stick to free transfers, you are always going to come unstuck.

You can’t work miracles in the market on every deal with no investment – something Mike Ashley needs to take note of finally – or sell the club to someone who understands football and our clear need for real investment.