OPINION
Newcastle United completed a famous, and wildly unexpected, 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City at St James’ Park on Tuesday.
Rafael Benitez’s side were behind after just 24 seconds when Sergio Aguero put the visitors in front, but second half strikes from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie completed the most unlikely of turnarounds.
Former Liverpool boss Benitez can also reflect on a night where he may have delivered the title to Anfield, but his main concern will be congratulating his players on a remarkable win.
As usual there is plenty to be gleaned from the game, and Nothing but Newcastle has rounded up three things that can be learned from Newcastle’s stunning victory over City:
Benitez has Yedlin decision to make
It’s been clear throughout this season that right back DeAndre Yedlin hasn’t been at his best, and that was very much the case once again against City on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old American, it’s sad to say, is fast becoming a problem for Benitez.
It’s obvious that he’s one of the manager’s favourites, but he’s just not been delivering the goods this campaign. He was pretty woeful against the champions and struggled to have much impact on the game.
Javier Manquillo, to his credit, has actually played well at times when he’s featured this term. It might not be the worst idea for Benitez to give his fellow Spaniard a shot in Yedlin’s place.
Newcastle have unearthed a diamond in Longstaff
Sean Longstaff is remarkable. He was only drafted into the Magpies team earlier this month because of a host of central midfield absentees, but he has risen to the challenge in phenomenal fashion.
The 21-year-old produced another unbelievable performance against City. Up against the likes of Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, he never looked out of place, which is about as big a compliment as you can give him.
We are at the point now where Longstaff is looking undroppable. It wouldn’t matter if Jonjo Shelvey, Mohamed Diame and Ki Sung-yueng all returned to full fitness tomorrow, Longstaff is the man in midfield for Newcastle.
Rondon impresses, but will he want to stay?
When Benitez’s team desperately needed a bit of inspiration against City it was Rondon who stepped up to the plate. The Venezuelan dragged the Magpies level with a smart strike that was just rewards for an industrious display on Tuesday.
The question now is whether he will want to remain on Tyneside beyond his loan spell? He scored, and looked very happy about it, but there’s no disguising the fact that he looked like the loneliest man in football for much of the game.
Due to the way that Newcastle play he is often isolated for large periods of matches and left to feed on scraps. That can’t be enjoyable for any striker and you wouldn’t blame him for thinking about pastures new come the summer.
