The Magpies may have the strongest squad in the league but many of their second string failed to prove themselves on Saturday.
Rafael Benitez has told The Chronicle that Newcastle United’s fringe players must prove that they can step up to the plate when required after Saturday’s shock home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
The Magpies had won each of their previous nine fixtures to put themselves on the verge of beating Kevin Keegan’s 10-game record for consecutive victories set all the way back in 1994, with a Blackburn side entrenched in the relegation zone appearing the ideal opposition.
However, Charlie Mulgrew’s volleyed winner consigned Newcastle to only their fourth league defeat of the campaign, with the likes of Chancel Mbemba, Christian Atsu and Aleksandar Mitrovic failing to impress on rare starts.
And Benitez, who admitted to resting many of his key players with their EFL Cup quarter-final against Hull City on his mind, says his out-of-favour charges must do more to stake their claim when given an opportunity.
“Some of [the changes] we have to make and some of them we have to give them an opportunity to perform,” Benitez told The Chronicle.
“They have done well before when we have changed players and that was the idea. We have to be sure they can be on the pitch competing and showing in other games.
“We didn’t start well and the way that the game was going was not easy for us. We didn’t manage it properly.”
While the quality of the additions to Newcastle’s squad on Saturday appeared to demonstrate the strength in reserve at St James’ Park, their disappointing displays against Rovers hinted at exactly why Benitez had demoted them to the bench in the first place, with the likes of Dwight Gayle expected to return for their trip to the KCom Stadium on Tuesday.
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