One of Newcastle’s big issues is their key players being out of form.
Ayoze Perez was the Magpies’ top scorer last season, but is struggling this time out.
Against Arsenal, we saw a typical Perez performance. Industrious but wasteful in possession, many Newcastle fans were frustrated with the Spaniard.
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Perez out, Muto in?
With Perez struggling, there is a like for like replacement waiting in the wings in the shape of Yoshinori Muto.
The Japanese forward arrived in the summer from Mainz, but has only started one game so far, the League Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The 26-year-old has been lively off the bench in the Premier League, winning the penalty against Cardiff that Kenedy missed. Muto looks like he might struggle with the physical nature of English football, but there’s only one way to find out.
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Perez looks like he needs a spell on the sidelines, so Rafa Benitez must take this chance to throw one of his summer signings in at the deep end.
Muto appears to have the same industrious qualities that Perez possesses, so should be able to fit Rafa’s system.
Newcastle did not spend a lot of money this summer, but Muto was their biggest investment. They spent £9.5million pounds on Muto, so it is about time we saw if he was actually worth the money.
Brief cameos against elite teams such as Arsenal or Chelsea are not going to help him adapt to the Premier League, but a start against Crystal Palace might.
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