Some Newcastle United fans have been calling for Rafael Benitez to utilise two strikers.
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has told the Chronicle that playing two up-front isn’t necessarily the solution for his side.
Many Newcastle fans have called for Dwight Gayle to be used in tandem with Aleksandar Mitrovic this season.
However, Benitez has stuck by his 4-2-3-1 formation, which incorporates just one striker.
Some Magpies fans feel this has limited Newcastle going forward, but Benitez insists that it isn’t a negative approach.
“It depends on the players in the squad, who is fit, who is training well (and) which team we are facing,” he said.
“If you play two up front, you have to consider how that could that affect the strength of your midfield, there are lots of things to think about when we select our team and formation.
“We have done this in some games but to play with two strikers could be negative if that means you lose the control in other parts of the pitch.
“I would ask people to consider that we are at the top of the table, scoring more goals than any other team in the division and conceding less than the others – to change our shape it could be right, or maybe not. What we are doing is working.”
As a result of Newcastle’s desire to play one up-front, Mitrovic has found it very difficult to break into Benitez’s team.
Mitrovic has found himself behind Gayle and Daryl Murphy in the pecking order recent weeks.
Gayle has been Newcastle’s main man up-front this term, racking up 21 goals in the Championship.
Newcastle are next in action after the international break, when they take on Wigan Athletic.
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