Give Slimani a run out?
After recovering from a thigh injury that has delayed his Newcastle debut for two months, Slimani may finally be able to briefly pull on a black and white shirt this weekend should Benitez include the forward in his match-day squad.
Slimani clocked up 27 minutes for Algeria in midweek, his first competitive action since playing and scoring for Leicester in a 3-0 victory against….Huddersfield on New Years Day. Some Magpies fans might see that as an omen.
Of course, there is no chance Slimani will start the game given he has just returned from a prolonged absence and Dwight Gayle deserves to retain his starting berth, but just the 29-year-old’s presence on the substitutes bench would be a lift and give United a new dimension in attack if his services are required.
