MX23RW : Sunday, January 19 12:42:55| >> :120:9647:9647:

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:
Written by
P A
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
FT
Washington
45-31
Lions
8pm
Rams
@
Eagles
11.30pm
Ravens
@
Bills
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal22128243212244
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Bournemouth22107536261037
7Aston Villa2210663334-136
8Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
9Fulham228953430433
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2113171347-346


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!