MX23RW : Saturday, June 1 16:12:38| >> :60:2439:2439:

Rafael Benitez tells Salomon Rondon to "keep scoring" to secure future

Rafael Benitez tells Salomon Rondon to
© Reuters
The Venezuela international has scored 10 goals for the Magpies.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has told Salomon Rondon to just keep scoring goals if he wants to resolve his future.

The Venezuela international frontman took his tally for the season to 10 with his strike in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth before the international break, and was also on the scoresheet for his country as they beat Argentina 3-1 last Friday.

Rondon arrived at St James' Park on loan from West Brom in August last year with Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction, and with no permanent deal in place his future remains up in the air.

However Benitez, who has been delighted with his contribution to date, wants him to carry on what he has been doing as the Magpies look to secure their top-flight status and is confident his position will be resolved as a result.

The Spaniard said: "We knew him before. We knew he could be fine for the way we wanted to play. I was pleased with him and I have been talking to him about what he is thinking.

"He is clear on wanting to score goals. I have talked with him about football, I asked him about what was going on. We had the same message, it is to carry on scoring goals.

"If he scores goals, it will be easier for him. It is better for him not to think about the future and just to score goals."

Newcastle will continue their quest for the remaining points they need – they currently sit in 13th place on 35, seven clear of the drop zone – at Arsenal on Monday evening.

They will do so without central defender Fabian Schar, who is suspended after reaching 10 bookings for the season.

However, the Switzerland international is unlikely to have been able to play anyway after being knocked unconscious during his country's 2-0 Euro 2020 qualifying victory in Georgia last Saturday.

Schar was allowed to complete the game despite losing consciousness, sparking concern over his welfare, although Benitez was relaxed about the incident.

He said: "We take these things very, very seriously and we tried to do as we have to do. He had the test after over there and then he had another test over here and then we try to be sure that he is fine, and it's okay, so I will not create something really important for that."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Damian Spellman, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '5212649e-53c9-4bd1-886b-481633b1d978');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Carry on Rondon, says Benitez'});

ID:354704: cacheID:354704:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4743:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium taken September 2018
Read Next:
Man City to take part in Premier League Asia Trophy
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!