Newcastle United haven’t seen Islam Slimani in action yet.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has told The Chronicle that he needs to see striker Islam Slimani prove his quality in training.
The Magpies desperately needed a striker in the January transfer window, and after struggling to land one for four weeks, Newcastle did pounce on deadline day.
Newcastle secured Leicester City striker Islam Slimani on loan until the end of the season after a lack of playing time with the Foxes, and was seen as a focal point who could lead the Newcastle attack and score goals to keep the club in the Premier League.
The Algerian international arrived with a minor injury, but Newcastle weren’t put off from striking a deal – a decision that they may now have a tinge of regret over.
Slimani, 29, has yet to make a single appearance for Newcastle due to his injury situation, meaning Dwight Gayle has had to step up and score goals for the Magpies in recent weeks.
Slimani has taken a big step towards finally making his Newcastle debut against Huddersfield Town this weekend, as he came on as a substitute for Algeria against Iran.
With 25 minutes under his belt, Slimani may hope to feature against Huddersfield, but manager Benitez has offered something of a warning, telling The Chronicle that whilst Slimani has confidence in himself, he has to prove his quality in training before he can be considered for selection against Huddersfield.
“He has confidence in himself, which is positive, but he has to show us this in the training sessions and with his country, then we will see what happens against Huddersfield,” said Benitez.
After spending the first two months of his Newcastle stint on the sidelines, it seems unthinkable that the Magpies would consider a permanent move for Slimani having simply failed to see enough of him to invest big money in his signature – and that may leave Benitez looking for a new striker yet again this summer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
