Mick Quinn shared how he would improve Newcastle United attacker Salomon Rondon if he was the manager of the club.
The Magpies legend raved about the 29-year-old’s recent displays, pointing out that the forward was currently ‘on fire’, before sharing how he believes the player could get even better.
Quinn revealed that Rondon was a team player and working hard, but that if he was Rafa Benitez he would tell the forward to only help his side defend corners and free-kicks due to the attacker being an ‘excellent’ header of the ball but aside from that he wouldn’t have him tracking back.
“My only reservation about Rondon is that he is very unselfish,” wrote Quinn in his column for The Chronicle.
“He’s a team player who tracks back and does the work but I don’t want him in the 90th minute being absolutely knackered because he’s been chasing back defenders and going back.”
“I know he has to at times, but if that chance falls to you at the 90th minute, you need to be ready – and if you get it, you’ve got to have the strength to finish it.
“There has to be a balance between his defending and attacking play, but I don’t want him chasing back 40 or 50 yards, because you have to have the strength to finish inside the box.
“If I was Rafa I’d say come back for free-kicks and corners, he’s a big lad, an excellent header of the ball, we can use that – but that’s about it. Don’t be chasing back 30 or 40 yards – get a breather, and the other lads chase back.”
OPINION
It’s easy to see where Quinn is coming from. Rondon would be less rundown if he wasn’t tracking back to aid his side’s defence and is more likely to be in the right position when the Magpies launch counter-attacks if kept up front. However given that at times the Magpies have had their backs to the wall due to other sides heaping on the pressure in games, it’s easy to see why Rondon gets dragged into helping his side defend. While Benitez may instruct the player to stay forward and let his teammates do their jobs, the forward may still feel himself like dropping deep to help just because of his nature. While it’s good to hear Quinn believes that Rondon can get even better, despite being in fantastic form currently, it does make you hope the Magpies are able to permanently sign him when the times comes. With the forward only being on loan from West Bromwich Albion currently, you fear the Magpies won’t secure his services if he continues to impress.
