After a slow start to life at Newcastle United following his loan move from West Brom over the summer, Salomon Rondon managed to kick his St. James’ Park career into gear just before the recent international break.
The 29-year-old got his name onto the scoresheet twice in the Magpies’ 2-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth, and has since come in for praise from a Newcastle legend.
The Breakdown
Speaking to the Premier League’s official website about Rondon, former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi said: “Clearly his strength is his aerial prowess. If you look at the goal he scored in the last home game, it was just a top-quality finish with his head.
“There’s his hold-up play, too. He’s a strong guy and it’s something he can do very comfortably for Newcastle.”
Looking at his time at West Brom, as alluded to by Ameobi, £11.7m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Rondon is quite clearly at his strongest when his back is towards goal and when balls are being put into the box for him to attack.
The 29-year-old is a physically imposing centre-forward who relishes going head-to-head with central defenders in the air.
With the likes of Kenedy and Matt Ritchie in the side, two very capable crossers of the ball, those scenarios Rondon thrives in are ones the team should have no problem creating.
On top of Kenedy and Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yueng are also good at playing direct balls, which is obviously a further boost for Newcastle’s Venezuelan No.9.
Rondon has all the makings of a good Premier League centre-forward and is in a team that has the characteristics needed to help him deliver on a consistent basis.
