Rafa Benitez has already used 27 different players in his Newcastle United team so far this season and Clark believes it will bring out the best in the squad.
Newcastle United centre-back Ciaran Clark has given his insight to The Chronicle regarding one of manager Rafa Benitez’s most notable policies – squad rotation.
The Magpies’ boss has been keen to switch his team up game after game and is yet to name the same starting XI two games running as he looks to utilize the strength in depth of the squad in the Championship this season.
With 12 players being brought in during the summer, United’s squad is undeniably one of if not the strongest in the division.
And Clark, who is one of those 12 new arrivals, finds himself in and out of the starting XI as a result but the summer arrival knows that the rotation is for the good of the team.
“I’m happy with the last few games I’ve played,” he told The Chronicle. “We all know the way it goes here. We’ve got a big squad and top-quality players. We’ve all bought into the way we’ve been rotated and kept fresh for certain games.
“We’re all happy with that and know how it goes.”
Clark has started five of Newcastle’s 11 matches this season and opened his account for the club in the 6-0 win over QPR. He also put in a man of the match performance against his former club Aston Villa in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park over the weekend.
But the Republic of Ireland international insists he would have been fine whether he played or not.
“We know the drill. If I wasn’t selected, that’s the way it would have been,” Clark continued. “I would have wished the lads all the best and given them 100% support.”
“(Benitez) sees things where we can improve, and he lets us know. We’ll get all the information about that and told how he need to put it right and move forward.”
Next up for Newcastle is another massive Championship clash at home to promotion rivals and current league leaders Norwich City on Wednesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).
Benitez will almost certainly be rotating his squad for the match and despite Clark grabbing a goal, an assist and putting in a man of the match performance in his previous two matches, he is still not guaranteed a start.
Is Benitez’s rotation policy a positive thing for Newcastle?
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