OPINION
After Newcastle United put in a sub-par performance in the 0-0 draw away at Cardiff City, manager Rafael Benitez needs to make some serious changes to ensure his side get some points on the board.
While many will say the Magpies were unlucky to come away from Wales with just a point, having missed a last minute penalty, Benitez’s men let themselves down in nearly every department, offering very little in terms of attacking threat and only kept a clean sheet to the poor finishing of Cardiff’s own forwards.
With Chelsea visiting St James’ Park next, the Spaniard has to be brutal with the axe and make wholesale changes to his starting XI, with as many as six dropping out.
Kenedy, who is ruled out due to him being on loan from the Blues, must be joined by Javier Manquillo, Ciaran Clark, Mohamed Diame, Ayoze Perez and Joselu in being axed, with Christian Atsu, DeAndre Yedlin, Federico Fernandez, Ki Sung-Yeung, Yoshinori Muto and Salomon Rondon taking their places.
At the back, Yedlin should be back from injury and is almost guaranteed a starting spot when fit, while Fernandez, a summer signing from Swansea City, is likely to be ready to take the place of Clark at the heart of the defence, offering a more composed figure against what is a dangerous Chelsea attack.
In midfield, Jonjo Shelvey and Ki should finally be allowed to reform their partnership built up while both at Swansea, the South Korean another who arrived from Wales, this time on a free transfer.
On the wings, former Chelsea man Atsu should be given the nod to take Kenedy’s place with Matt Ritchie on the other flank, while Muto must be used after impressing in flashes off the bench against Cardiff, whole Rondon has to be fit enough to lead the line.
With Fernandez, Ki, Muto and Rondon, Benitez would be handing four first team full debuts against the Blues, but what better chance for them to prove their worth than against Chelsea.