OPINION
While many of the summer signings made by Newcastle United in 2018 have failed to live up to expectations, there have been few more disappointing than Kenedy.
The Brazilian was one of the club’s outstanding players during the latter half of last season, dazzling the St James’ Park faithful with his silky skills and electric pace down the flank and it seemed like a real coup when the Magpies managed to secure him on another loan deal in the off-season, this time for the full campaign.
Things have not turned out as planned.
One goal and one assist in 17 appearances is all the 22-year-old has to his name thus far and it speaks volumes that Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy have been able to take his place in the starting XI of late.
With January around the corner, manager Rafael Benitez might well be looking for some new attacking reinforcements but the Chelsea man will likely be feeling safe regardless of his poor form.
He should be anything but confident.
Not only is Kenedy taking up space in both the squad and the wage book, he is taking up a valuable spot as a player on loan from an English club – one of only two permitted in the Premier League.
The other is occupied by Salomon Rondon – easily the club’s best striker and going nowhere – and with temporary signings crucial to Benitez thanks to the lack of available funds, Kenedy is a luxury who needs to be performing.
His abysmal form could well mean he is in the last chance saloon at St James’ Park ahead of January and that a failure to perform against Watford or Manchester United in their next two games may lead to his early – and shock – exit from Tyneside.
There is no room for passengers among Benitez’s squad – especially not when they are preventing new arrivals from making the move – and as such the Brazilian is walking a precarious tightrope.