OPINION
Newcastle United’s wingers have not been particularly impressive this season and with a man like Salomon Rondon leading the line, it seems a waste of the Venezuelan’s talents.
The likes of Matt Ritchie, Christian Atsu, Jacob Murphy and Kenedy have all been tasked with trying to provide the powerful hitman with the service to score goals but their respective impact has been fleeting.
It is why the Daily Star‘s report linking Rafael Benitez with Bournemouth wing duo David Brooks and Ryan Fraser as well as Burnley’s Dwight McNeil must cause those contracted to the Magpies to sweat about their futures.
With a return to Chelsea for Kenedy seemingly a given after falling like a lead balloon down the pecking order under Benitez, it leaves Ritchie, who has been shoehorned in at left back in recent weeks, Atsu, with just 12 Premier League starts, and Murphy, shipped on loan to West Brom in January, to fight it out to remain as a wide option to the manager.
Of the trio, Ritchie seems the safest thanks to his versatility and consistency but his age might play a role against him, with the Scottish international quickly heading towards the latter stages of his career.
Atsu is also no spring chicken and his lack of impact, with not a single goal or assist to his name this season, surely puts him under pressure.
Murphy meanwhile is a difficult one – he is young enough to still have potential but has so far failed to live up to expectation, his move to the Hawthorns a bid to try and get him some much needed game time.
With such exciting talents said to have been lined up by the Magpies, none of the trio can consider themselves safe – and it could be all change out wide if Benitez gets his way.