Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer was blown away by Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon following the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
The on-loan West Brom striker netted a brace in the first half to ensure all three points at St James’ Park, and Shearer was full of praise for the 6ft 1in [Transfermarkt] ace, labelling him as “absolutely brilliant”.
He adds that the Cherries’ three centre-backs – which includes Nathan Ake – were not able to handle Rondon as he “bullied them all afternoon”, and that the forward deserved to get his hat-trick with the amount of chances he was presented with.
“He was absolutely brilliant today. It was the complete centre-forward performance. The three centre-backs – [Steve] Cook, [Simon] Francis and Ake – could not handle him, he bullied them all afternoon,” Shearer said on Match of the Day on Saturday night.
“They couldn’t handle him, they couldn’t control him. He should have got his hat-trick. He was involved in everything good that was Newcastle. I’m very, very impressed with him, he showed why Rafa [Benitez] was right to go out and get him.
“He is going to be key. When you have got someone who can hold the ball up, that is why Rafa brought him to the football club.”
OPINION
Shearer is right to heap praise on Rondon after his performance against Bournemouth – he really came into his own in this match. He proved to everyone exactly why Benitez made the effort to bring him to St James’ Park – his second goal, which was whipped in with an excellent cross from Kenedy, showed just that. Many fans were no doubt starting to wonder why he was brought into the club, and who could really blame them? He struggled with his fitness at the beginning of the season, and in the few appearances he did make, he made next to no contribution. The fact that Dwight Gayle is on fire after going the other way to West Brom may not have helped either, but they will have their fingers crossed that he can keep this form up after the international break. Bournemouth are by no means easy opponents – they sat in the Premier League top six before this game – so to dominate them for the majority of the clash in the way that Newcastle did was impressive.