Rafael Benitez defends Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez

Follow us on Google Discover

Newcastle United striker Ayoze Perez has featured in every Premier League match so far.

Newcastle United’s Rafael Benitez has told the Shields Gazette that Ayoze Perez did not play well against Crystal Palace, but the criticism of the Spaniard is not fair.

Perez is one of Newcastle’s most divisive players, with many at St. James’ Park feeling Benitez shows too much patience with the forward.

Perez has featured in all of Newcastle’s Premier League matches so far this season, despite scoring just once.

But Benitez insists that Perez’s value to the team shouldn’t purely be measured by his goalscoring record.

“I can read the comments and some people say this or that,” said Benitez.

“He’s doing well. He’s a clever player. He has good movement.

“He didn’t play well [in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace] the other day. He knows. We know. He had two or three situations where he could do better, and he was wrong.

“Still, he’s doing a great job, and the understanding between him and Joselu and the midfielders and the rest of the team is quite good.”

Perez’s only goal this season came for Newcastle against Southampton, as the Magpies picked up a 2-2 draw on the south coast recently.

Perez is likely to start for Newcastle this evening, as Benitez’s side take on Burnley at Turf Moor.

Newcastle will move up to sixth place in the Premier League table, if they are able to win against Burnley tonight, which would represent huge progress for Benitez’s side.