With the likes of Emmanuel Riviere unlikely to challenge Newcastle United’s first team, they could turn out for the club in the EFL Trophy.
Newcastle United’s players returned for pre-season training on Monday, with the makeup of the squad clearly showing a need for movement at St James’ Park this summer.
While Rafa Benitez will hope to add more new faces to a group boosted only by the permanent signing of Christian Atsu, he also needs to shift a number of fringe players.
Tim Krul, Henri Saivet, Siem de Jong and Emmanuel Riviere spent last season out on loan, while Achraf Lazaar and Grant Hanley made little impact on Tyneside. Benitez will surely look to move on those six plus more.
But finding suitors may be tough, particularly with Riviere, on a considerable wage, enduring an awful temporary spell with Osasuna.
Whether Benitez can sell those players or not, though, he will be determined that they do not negatively impact on his plans for the coming season.
The Chronicle revealed last week that Newcastle have entered the EFL Trophy, where they can field a reserve side, and this could allow Benitez to move some players to Peter Beardsley’s squad.
Benitez has previously pushed the likes of Sammy Ameobi out of the first team picture and would not be afraid to do so again – the extra games in the EFL Trophy allowing him to keep the players occupied and somewhat match fit. With the squad needing improvement, this would also be an opportunity for players to make a case for a return to the first team picture.
While he and the club would clearly rather see a financial return from these outcasts, they at least need not worry the manager.
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