Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has lavished praise on Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon following the 1-1 draw against Watford on Saturday.
The Venezuela international netted his fifth Premier League goal of the season with a superbly-taken header in the 29th minute, but his effort was cancelled out just eight minutes from time by the Hornets, resigning the Magpies to just a point.
Shearer believes that Newcastle are a much better team with Rondon in it, a trait which he thought was not displayed when Joselu played in his place against Liverpool on Boxing Day.
“He left him out or rested him at Anfield and [Matt] Ritchie put two or three brilliant balls in at Anfield and didn’t have anyone to get on the end of them. Joselu was there and didn’t score them,” he told BBC One’s Match of the Day [29/12].
“It was a brilliant cross and a very, very good header. He’s got a presence because you know he can do that. You know that he can get on the end of things and he brings people into the game. You know he can hold up the play and you can start your build-up with him.
“They’re a better team with him in there because he gives them options. It was another good performance from him – five goals in 12 games is a good return.”
OPINION
Salomon Rondon was arguably Newcastle’s best player on the pitch on Saturday, and this was epitomised by the excellent goal he scored. However, as Shearer has pointed out, Rondon is capable of other things other than just scoring. He highlighted how the 29-year-old is able to “hold up play” and the team are able to start their “build-up with him.” To have a striker who is able to perform well in other areas other than just in front of goal is like a gold mine, and the Magpies should make the most of this while they can. If they are able to secure his services beyond the end of his loan, then Rafa Benitez will be laughing. Rondon is becoming crucial to the club’s survival this season, and to be honest, without him the goals would pretty much dry up. The ace deserves all of the plaudits that he can get – as he was Newcastle’s shining light on Saturday.