The Spaniard seems undecided on what Newcastle’s best midfield pairing is.
Newcastle United’s winless run in the Premier League extended to six games on Saturday as Rafael Benitez’s side fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Chelsea.
Benitez’s team had started well at Stamford Bridge and took the lead through Dwight Gayle but, as has been the case all too often in recent weeks, they were vulnerable defensively and were punished.
While Newcastle’s defence is certainly in need of improvement, it is their midfield which is perhaps the biggest concern of late.
Benitez has several options to choose from in that area of the pitch and against Chelsea elected for a pairing of Mikel Merino and Mohamed Diame.
Merino is evidently still working his way back to full fitness after recovering from injury, while Diame was unable to make much of an impact, with Chelsea dominating in midfield.
Benitez later introduced Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey but Chelsea still prevailed.
It seems clear that Benitez needs to settle on a midfield pairing that can give Newcastle stability. For now, it would seem that the best option would be to start Hayden alongside Shelvey, which would give the team a combination of resilience and creativity.
Merino certainly warrants a place in the starting line-up when fully fit, perhaps at the expense of Shelvey, while Diame’s athleticism make him a useful option from the bench.
However, Benitez needs to identify his first-choice midfield pairing quickly in order to give his side an identity and a chance of performing consistently.
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