OPINION
Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez must be sweating now that the likes of Yoshinori Muto are not fit to feature due to injury.
However, their lack of depth in attack has now been made glaringly obvious now that Muto is absent, and it may mean that he will have to resort to selecting Ayoze Perez until he returns from his injury.
Yes, he did score the winner last weekend, but that does not suddenly mean that fans can forget about his woeful displays this season – that form does not disappear instantly.
This is why Benitez must pull off a masterstroke and re-sign winger Florian Thauvin from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille, as he can provide the cutting edge that United so desperately need in attack.
10 Sport report that the 25-year-old has interest from Italy – this includes Roma and Napoli – but Benitez must hijack this interest and bag him for themselves.
He may not have had the best of times at St James’ Park during his last spell, but he has the chance to write some wrongs by ensuring Newcastle of their Premier League safety this season.
Thauvin has provided eight goals and four assists in all competitions this season and there is no doubt that he will get pulses racing with this excellent form.
The attacker may be tempted by the prospect of playing for the likes of Napoli in Serie A, but he has the ability to make himself a household name with the Magpies.
Perez is just not up to the job, no matter how much Benitez wants to tell himself otherwise – Newcastle need players who can contribute both goals and assists, and Thauvin is just the player to deliver the goods.
The manager must not be swayed by the fact that the 5ft 10in [Transfermarkt] ace did not perform to his best during his last stint, as Thauvin has certainly redeemed himself enough to win back the hearts of the Newcastle fans.