Rafa Benitez warns Islam Slimani the next six weeks are key if he wants to rebuild his reputation
Forward joined Toon on loan from Leicester City in January, but has not been seen in Black and White shirt due to injury
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RAFA BENITEZ has told fit-again Islam Slimani the next six weeks are vital if he wants to rebuild his reputation.
The £30million Leicester flop, 29, joined Newcastle on loan in January after just one Premier League goal all season.
But today — as the Magpies host Huddersfield — will be the first time he has even made the Toon bench after a thigh injury.
Newcastle boss Benitez said: “I’m sure in these two months he will try to do his best as it’s about his future, important for us as a team, as a club — and it’s important for him personally.
“The way he trains and how competitive he is, I think he will have chances to start games.
“If the others score a lot of goals then you never know — but he is someone who is very competitive and he will have his chances.”
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Slimani, who cost Toon a £2m loan fee, is ineligible to play against his parent club Leicester next week, so he will only feature in seven games at the most this season.
But Benitez insists the Algerian’s arrival has served to spur on his other strikers.
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Not least Dwight Gayle, who has scored two goals and provided two assists in his last four games.
The Spanish manager added: “Just by signing him, we improved the competition between the strikers, so that was positive.
“He was not training but he was around and it means the others pushed harder.
“Everyone was like, ‘We have to do better’ and it kept them on their toes.”