Newcastle United striker Islam Slimani was brought in on loan from Leicester City in January.
Slimani was brought in at Newcastle on loan from Leicester City in the January transfer window, but he has had a limited impact so far.
The Algerian international has struggled with injury, which has limited his game time to substitute appearances.
However, Slimani has now caught Benitez’s eye in Newcastle training recently.
And the Spanish boss claims that the target-man is now ready to feature from the start for the Magpies.
“I think he’s fit enough to start,” said Benitez. “He’s been training well.
“When a player is coming from the bench, you need to see something. ‘Something’ means at the very least, he has to run. If he’s doing well, much better, but he has to run first and foremost and work hard for the team, and he did that.”
Slimani is the January addition at Newcastle who has made the least impact, but he has still been able to show flashes of quality.
Slimani came off the bench in Newcastle’s last match against Arsenal and helped Benitez’s side pick up three points.
The Leicester loanee’s task of breaking into Newcastle’s team has been tough, as both Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez have been in strong form.
Slimani could feature for Newcastle later this evening, when they take on Everton at Goodison Park.
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