Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has provided an update on the futures of Rolando Aarons, Achraf Lazaar and Freddie Woodman.
There was no place for Aarons in the club’s 25 man squad for the first half of the season, and while Lazaar made it, he was not given a squad number at the club.
Benitez has moved the clarify the pair’s situation: “If they are not in the squad they cannot train with us,” he told the Chronicle. “They will stay over there [at the academy]. If they are over there it’s because we told them we need to find a solution.”
On goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, Benitez said: “He will normally stay here. We don’t have anyone coming saying they want him now. We had clubs before but we told them that now is not the right time, so normally he has to stay.”
OPINION
It’s no surprise to see Benitez be so dismissive of the futures of both Aarons and Lazaar. Clearly neither player is in the manager’s plans, so it makes no sense for them to be training with the first team. That may sound harsh, but Benitez and his staff would only use up time and energy that could be better utilised elsewhere dealing with them on a daily basis. They both need moves away from the club really, as they’re never going to make an impact at St James’ Park now. Aarons had much potential when he first burst onto the scene, but injuries and poor form have prevented him from fulfilling his potential. Lazaar, on the other hand, seemed like a bizarre purchase from the moment he was brought in. Woodman must be frustrated at his situation, though, as he must want to play regular football. He isn’t going to get a game at Newcastle at the moment, so it’s a real shame for him that no loan move has materialised.
