Newcastle centre back Ciaran Clark believes that Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy will not only help the players to stay fit through the long Championship season, but also help the squad to strike up vital partnerships.
Usually with an established starting eleven an understanding develops across all areas of the pitch, with the two centre backs especially developing a sixth sense of where each player should be.
If a player is sidelined through suspension or injury however, the player drafted into the starting eleven will take time to integrate into the side. With rotation however, Clark believes it provides a greater opportunity for players to develop more partnerships. He told the Evening Chronicle:
“We have some quality players here and hopefully through training more, and playing more with all the boys we will all strike up good partnerships. With the rotation system we have here it means you can get a partnership going with different players when needed. We’ll see how it goes and look to get good results.”
Clark has been playing with captain Jamaal Lascelles in recent weeks and has also played alongside fellow new signing Grant Hanley in the third round of the League Cup against Wolves.
He will hoping his partnership with Lascelles leads to more performances like last time out against Rotherham, rather than in the last home game against Norwich City when the Magpies conceded three goals.
