It was another lost season for Yoshinori Muto at Newcastle United.
With the way Newcastle United’s strikers struggled this season, you’d expect everyone on the depth chart to get their chance to earn the role. But, Yoshinori Muto was again the odd man out up top for the Magpies in his second season with the club.
2019/20 EPL stats: Eight appearances, one shot, three offsides, two fouls
Expert Breakdown
Durim Halimi: Unlike Carson below, I do not have a soft spot for Yoshinori Muto. In my opinion, the Japanese striker does not belong at the club. He is an athletic striker with good pace and some good technical skills, but he is not capable of scoring multiple goals in the Premier League.
Bruce did not give him many chances to show what he can do, which placed a lower ceiling on Muto’s potential, but he hasn’t made the most of his opportunities either.
Over the last two seasons, Muto made 25 appearances for the club, but only took seven shots, with only one shot last season. Shocking. Simply shocking.
Carson A. Merk: As you may know if you’re a consistent reader, I have a soft spot for Yoshi Muto. I think he is a versatile striker that can run in behind and combine well with other players in the attack. But, for the second straight season, his chances to play were limited.
Clearly, there’s a reason that he hasn’t been given a fair shake from Rafa Benitez or Steve Bruce. I’m not sure if it’s poor performances in training or a bad attitude, but there’s zero reason that he should want to stay with the club entering next season.
The 28-year-old should try to find a new home this summer because he clearly isn’t going to get a shot to assert himself as the first-choice striker in black and white.