Rafael Benitez admits that he’s got one problem at Newcastle United

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Newcastle United are set to take on Burnley at Turf Moor later this evening.

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has told the Shields Gazette that he is having a team selection problem at St. James’ Park, due to the form of his central midfielders.

Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and Mikel Merino are all competing for a place in Benitez’s team, and the trio are all in good form.

And Benitez admits that picking between Merino and Hayden is proving difficult at this moment in time.

“We played them together in one of the games [against Liverpool], but the problem I have now is that in one game [Isaac] Hayden scored, and in the other one Merino scored, so it’s quite difficult,” Benitez said.

“You can’t decide your team because someone scored or someone played one good game. It’s just the understanding between the players, the way that they complement each other.”

Shelvey looks likely to start for Newcastle against Burnley at Turf Moor tonight, but his partner is not so certain.

Hayden would offer Newcastle more steel and defensive quality, but Merino could offer them Magpies more creativity.

Merino did score the winner in Newcastle’s last match, as he came off the substitutes’ bench to head home against Crystal Palace.

Newcastle could move into sixth place in the Premier League table if they are able to win against Burnley this evening, and that would represent huge progress for Benitez’s side.