Yoshinori Muto is still yet to start a Premier League game for Newcastle United since his move from Bundesliga outfit Mainz.
Rafa Benitez was once again forced to operate with one hand tied behind his back in the transfer market. But has the Spaniard still managed to waste £9.5 million on Yoshinori Muto?
While Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic are scoring for fun at West Brom and Fulham, Japan international Muto continues to struggle at St James’ Park following his August move from Bundesliga outfit Mainz.
Muto has made just five substitute appearances in the Premier League and failed to make any sort of impact when coming off the bench in Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
And Benitez has now admitted that the 26-year-old needs to adapt to English football – and has reminded him to simply get on with it when the going gets tough.
“What I can see every training session is commitment, passion, work rate, but still you can see he was fouled a couple of times (against Palace) and the referee didn’t give a foul, so he was complaining and waiting,” Benitez told the Shields Gazette.
“So he needs to understand that the Premier League is different, and then you have to carry on.
“Some players, they need one year. Some players, they six months. Some players, they need one month. So, for a new player, always you have given him some time, and he has to be as positive as he is in every training session.”
It would be unfair to write off Muto before he has even started a game for Newcastle. But with The Magpies struggling for goals and without a win after six Premier League games, it is not unreasonable for fans to wonder whether they made a mistake signing Muto while letting Gayle and Mitrovic go.
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