OPINION
Yoshinori Muto is not a name that has been used sparingly at Newcastle United this season – to be honest, you would hardly remember he is there at all.
The 26-year-old has not been a prime feature under Rafa Benitez this season since signing in the summer, making 14 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies. Yes, injury has not helped his case, but that is not the point.
When the Japan international has been fit this term, the manager has not chosen to start him most of the time – and in the few games where he has placed his faith in Muto, that faith has not really been earned in the slightest.
This is why it makes complete sense for the club to loan out Muto in this upcoming transfer window. The woeful attacker clearly has not been in Benitez’ plans for quite a while – and if they end up signing Salomon Rondon permanently, then his chances will likely decrease even further.
He is no doubt craving some more regular game time, and the only way he can achieve that is by leaving the club temporarily. That way, he would gain more experience and come back a better player who is ready to challenge for a starting spot.
Muto needs to salvage his career on Tyneside, that is for sure. He needs to prove that he has the quality to do well and get in the supporters’ good books. At the moment, that is definitely not the case. He will want to get them back on side, as he does not want to end up like Joselu.
What is abundantly clear though, is that things just are not working for him at Newcastle. The faster he is loaned out in the summer, the better it will be for him in the long-run, as it will prevent his career at the club from going down the drain.
