Writing in his column for the Evening Chronicle, Don Hutchinson has said that Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy will be “annoying” some players in the Newcastle squad as they will be struggling to find rhythm and consistency.
The only player who has played every minute for the Magpies this season in the league is goalkeeper Matz Sels, and Hutchinson feels that rotation could be particularly detrimental to central defence and central midfield where partnerships need to develop:
“As a player, all that rotation can be annoying because it’s hard to get a rhythm and you like to be playing with the same people around you. It’s nice to have a bit of continuity at centre back and in central midfield in particular.”
Benitez has used four different central defence partnerships so far this season with Chancel Mbemba the unfortunate one to miss out on a squad place for the last match against Aston Villa last weekend.
Benitez opted for the pairing of Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark on Saturday while Grant Hanley was given a place on the bench ahead of Mbemba as the Newcastle manager wanted to utilise the Scottish international’s height if required at Villa Park.
