Salomon Rondon has been eased into life at the club after being left on the bench by Rafa Benitez for the first two league games of the season.
Joselu’s performance against Spurs indicated the manager was justified in keeping back our new no.9. However, the Spaniard’s anonymous display against Cardiff at the weekend may have hastened the West Brom’s loanee’s introduction into the first team.
Chronicle journalist Mark Douglas thinks the time has come for the Venezuelan to start:
Dust settled a bit on #nufc.
A few thoughts:
Diame struggled.
Rafa should have made RB a transfer window priority.
All for rewarding Joselu but Rondon introduction can't come a minute too soon.
Set up a bit too tentative today.BUT: Shelvey was excellent
Lascelles back to best— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 18, 2018
I have to agree with Douglas. Our ineffectiveness up top against a physically strong outfit like Cardiff was plain to see. Rondon has power and aerial ability, and we need someone like that to lead the line.
No disrespect to Joselu, who made a good start to his second season, he is a squad player rather than a regular first-team starter. The lack of threat in the final third was clear, and I think most fans want to see how our new signings fare from the start of matches going forward.