OPINION
Newcastle United have suffered a really disappointing start to the Premier League season, with Rafa Benitez’s men earning just a solitary point from their first four outings.
There have been very few positives for the Magpies in the opening salvos of the season, and conversely, a lot of negatives for Benitez to ponder over.
One of those disappointments so far has been the form of loan star Kenedy, who was one of the club’s best performers last season after joining up in January from Chelsea.
Another loan spell agreed this summer was greeted with huge positivity on Tyneside, but the Brazilian has looked a shadow of his former self this term.
A last-minute penalty miss against Cardiff seemed to really rock his confidence, and his performances since then have been poor to say the least.
The 22-year-old has also been busy outlining his long-term aims, telling the Brazilian press that he dreams of returning to Chelsea and winning titles there.
That will not have gone down too well with many on Tyneside, and Benitez has now thrown down the gauntlet to Kenedy with a stern warning about his future.
As quoted by the Mirror, Benitez said: “It is a crucial season for him. Obviously he would like to go to Chelsea and win the league, for example. Fine. But it’s a win-win situation for us. He has to do really well here if he wants to go there and play and have a chance. They are a top side and it’s very demanding. He knows that.
“He wants to do well and he has to do well.”
As Benitez says, it is down to Kenedy performing well at Newcastle if he is to get that chance at Chelsea, and the ball is now firmly in the Brazilian’s court if he wants to achieve those goals.
Focus must be turned to the season ahead with Newcastle before such lofty aims can be realised, and Kenedy must now knuckle down and work hard for the Magpies to get back to last season’s form.
If he fails to do so, then everyone loses.
But, as Benitez points out, if he does return to form, then everyone benefits.
An immediate riposte against Arsenal this weekend would be the perfect way to bounce back and get both Newcastle’s season and his long-term aims back on track.