Rafa Benitez suggests Rolando Aarons could have Newcastle future

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Rolando Aarons left Newcastle United for a loan spell last week after a difficult spell with the Magpies.

In comments reported by the Chronicle, Rafa Benitez has seemingly suggested that Rolando Aarons could still save his Newcastle career after leaving the club on loan last week.

Aarons has endured a largely miserable couple of years at St James’ Park. The 22-year-old has struggled to get a chance in the Magpies side, having made just five appearances for Benitez’s men since the start of last season.

An uninspiring loan spell with Hellas Verona did little to improve his prospects, and it probably surprised most of the Toon Army that the English transfer window closed without Aarons securing a move.

He would secure an exit, with Czech side Slovan Liberec completing a loan deal last week. Newcastle fans would be forgiven for feeling that the wide-man’s Magpies career is essentially over, but Benitez has suggested that the door remains open as he alluded to his potential.

“When you analyse his position, we have Kenedy doing as well as he was last season, you still have Atsu, Ritchie and Murphy too, so to have a young player like Rolando he was not playing too much, afterwards he was injured,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.

“He needs to play, he needs to prove to himself and to everyone he is a good player for the future. He has the potential. He need a little consistency, he needs to play games in a row and that is the key for his confidence. He has played a couple of games, then on the bench, he needs to play.”

It is going to be difficult for Aarons to force his way back in Newcastle’s plans while he is away from Tyneside. The Czech top flight is probably not a league that Benitez had any prior plans to follow closely, so Aarons faces a tough task trying to prove himself.

Having said that, Martin Dubravka arrived at St James’ from that same league – Liberec is one of his former clubs – so perhaps Aarons can take some encouragement from the stopper.