Newcastle top the Championship and have a EFL Cup quarter-final tie to look forward to.
Rafael Benitez has insisted that Newcastle United’s brilliant run in the EFL Cup continues to be a crucial part of their season due to its impact on the squad harmony, the Shields Gazette reports.
The Magpies are currently situated at the top of the Championship, and hold an eight-point advantage over the third place side in the division.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
But they are also battling in the latter stages of the cup, and face Hull City for a place in the last four in their final game in November. But while some fans may be concerned about whether the demands of that competition will ultimately harm their league form, Benitez has suggested that having more games is an advantage.
“I think it is positive,” he said, as reported by the Shields Gazette.
“If you have enough players in the squad because and you do not have too many injuries it is positive. It means that you have more options as a manager.
“Maybe the players who cannot play in the league games can play in the cup games.
“Then you can keep everyone happy.”
While Benitez’s team selections have been fairly consistent and have often looked fairly similar in the league this term – 10 players have made at least 10 league appearances – the teams he has selected for the cup games have been much more difficult to predict, with 24 players featuring in their three clashes so far.
But as Benitez suggests, that strategy should really strengthen their promotion hopes as those on the fringes of the squad will be less rusty when they are required to play in the league.
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