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Benitez explains the thinking behind Newcastle’s squad size

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Image for Benitez explains the thinking behind Newcastle’s squad size

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez doesn’t believe that the squad size that the Magpies have should be considered large. The signing of twelve players along with the departure over 20 players this summer means the first team now consists of 27.

The Spaniard says that they have less players in the squad than last season but the fact they have less injuries means he has more options available to him so he can rotate the side. He told the Shields Gazette:

“The squad is not big. If you analyse every single player we had last season we had 31, now we have 27 with (Freddie) Woodman and (Massadio) Haidara, who will play for the Under-23s. What we have now is that the majority of them are fit, so we have less injuries. The squad looks bigger because we have two players in each position, more or less… We are trying to change some things. Part of it is to change players to give them more rest by rotating them. We don’t need to risk any players.

The increase in league games in the Championship already necessitates a large squad with Benitez also a manager who likes a rotation system in place, not only to maintain fitness levels but to prevent injuries. A new 4G surface has been installed at the club’s training ground as Benitez felt the previous pitch was of a poor quality while a new physio and fitness coach are in place to try and prevent Newcastle’s seemingly annual injury crises. In a a 46 match league season, the Magpies will surely reap the benefits of both the squad size and new fitness regime in the coming months.

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