Newcastle United are set to be without summer loan signing Salomon Rondon.
The forward has scored just once since arrived on Tyneside, but Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Rondon is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Rondon came off at half time in the draw with Crystal Palace, but could now miss Newcastle’s next few games.
“He might be out for a couple of weeks then we will decide after that,” Benitez told the Chronicle ahead of the game with Leicester.
So with the loanee ruled out, it will be up to Joselu to lead the line.
Rondon injury exposes transfer failings
Benitez was right to let Aleksandar Mitrovic leave the club. We got good money for a player who didn’t fit the manager’s style of play.
However, that money had to be reinvested in the squad.
Instead, we got Rondon in on loan, in a deal that also saw us lose Dwight Gayle to West Brom.
Newcastle started the season no stronger than they ended the last, and just a few weeks in and they’re weaker.
Joselu has scored twice so far this season, but he is far from a natural goalscorer. The Spaniard doesn’t instil any confidence into the Newcastle fans, but he’s all we’ve got now.
Had we brought in another striker with the money that came in from outgoing players, then Rondon’s injury wouldn’t be so bad.
But the reality is that we didn’t, and once again Newcastle’s struggles on the pitch can be blamed on the transfer strategy (or lack of) off it.
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